THE evening started with The Norman Beaker Band performing Can’t Be Satisfied and one of their own compositions before bringing on special guest Cliff Bennett to sing a number of his own hits. He more than proved that he still has one of the best voices in British R’n’B, as well as being a great performer with a great sense of humour.

Favourites such as One Way Love, Knock On Wood and Got To Get You Into My Life were backed impeccably by The Beaker Band augmented by The Rebel Rousers’ horns. He got a well deserved standing ovation.

Then it was down to business with surely one of this country’s best singers of all time, Chris Farlowe.

He opened with Delbert McClinton’s Blues As Blues Can Get and then proceeded to powerfully but effortlessly sing for the next hour.

The wonderful thing about his singing is that it never sounds forced.

He oozes with soul and sensitivity as displayed on his wonderful version of Stormy Monday.

Of course, the evening would not have been complete without two songs especially written for him, Out Of Time by Jagger and Richards and the definitive version of Handbags and Gladrags by Mike D’Abo.

This was truly a night to remember.

Jeremy Rothman