WHAT a gig this was – one of the best-ever put on by the Jumpin’ Hot boys. Young Earle may have been otherwise engaged when he was scheduled to play here in the autumn, but the disappointment was dispelled the moment he struck up.

An amazing songwriter, Earle slipped into a winning groove from the off and never let it slip. It was a case of each song was better than the last. A tall man who likes to move around the stage and stamp his foot to the rhythm of his playing, Earle is at ease on stage and likes nothing better than to play and entertain.

His music and accompanying short stories, many about ex-girlfriends and chemical dependency, drew the audience closer as the night went on. He reciprocated their generous and vociferous applause with an extended encore.

Combining blues, country and folk, Earle delighted the packed venue with material from all three of his albums plus a couple of new ones and even one from Bruce Springsteen.

Accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, numbers such as Wanderin’ and One More Night In Brooklyn, plus the fabulous gospel blues title track from his latest album, Harlem River Blues, had the place buzzing like crazy. Music doesn’t come any better than this, no matter where you are.

Opening the evening was the James Walbourne Trio.

Walbourne is an exceptional guitar-playing act whose songs, lead vocals and band weren’t bad either.

Maurice Hope