This is my first new show for a few weeks and I hadn’t done a live show in even longer so there was a lot of catching up to do. Sadly we have recently lost some major and significant artists but there wasn’t enough time to show respect to them all. I played 2 early Jeff Beck tunes in heavy rock mode, and I plan to play more from his fusion period in the next show. We also lost Barrett Strong, writer of some classic Motown hits and David Jude Jolicoeur aka Trugoy the Dove, who was one third of the ground breaking De La Soul but, with no disrespect to any artists – alive or dead, Burt Bacharach probably touched more hearts in his 94 years than virtually anyone.

I could easily have filled the entire 2 hours with his melodies but restricted myself to a handful of my favourites, but still had to miss out a few.

New stuff from: Ben Rosenblum Nebula Project, Bonnie Raitt, Kurt Elling & Charlie Hunter (feat. Nate Smith), more from the recent Unthanks, Kevin Fingier and Edwin Perez releases, a new posthumous collection from Ali Farka Toure. As well as vintage Chicago Transit Authority, Betty Wright, Arsenio Rodriguez, Carlyto Lassa, Irma Thomas and more.

Also, let’s not forget Grupo Lokito who will be launching their new Bamoko (translates as Unity) release this Saturday 25/2/23 at my Mambista night as part of a mini-tour taking in 3 more London venues over the next few weeks. With their patented mix of Congolese Rumba and Cuban Salsa Grupo Lokito always get the party started. Advance tix here