Love live music

At my friend Sally's invitation I'm at Bush Hall in West London for some spirit lifting, life enhancing music. The guys in the picture are Stax (all 16 of them, including a horn section). Their covers of Santana and Cream hits took me further back into my youth than I had been for a fair while).

When soul diva Mica Paris joined them as headline act, the night was complete.

Compere of the gig was Purdy who's music I always place alongside Portishead, a connection she made for us tonight. Shan Smile brought us all together followed by a little bit of beatbox from Rupert Oldridge and his tiny heckler Lucas.

Billy Phillips performed an acoustic set followed by Sam Swallow on the keyboards. Sam's voice reminded me of Al Stewart. I still remember the rumbling, rolling versions of Joe Jackson's Steppin' Out he played with his bass player.

All this for music charity Nordoff Robbins.

Extras