Soul II Soul, Opera House, Boscombe

Tonight Soul II Soul come with the original members plus a collection of musicians to form a whole band. This is great as the whole spectacle is enhanced by as many as eighteen individuals throughout the night.

Jazzy B takes us through the history of Soul II Soul, beginning in 1988 with their earliest tunes. Each time, Jazzy B informs the audience with a brief background of each year and what was happening around the band, introducing various members of Soul II Soul and the parts they played.

Next up is the 1989 hit Keep On Moving. Jazzy B reminds us that it is from about the time the band won "some Grammy Awards". It is old-school hip-hop or RnB that puts the contemporary attempts of new artists to shame, a soulful groove with powerful vocals sang by Caron Wheeler.

MC Chickaboo is the newest member of Soul II Soul. Midway through the set she appears for a more contemporary tune with a garage vibe. Soul II Soul should just stick to their hits and this is proven true when Wheeler returns for the sublime Back To Life. It is almost 20 years since this was released yet it remains a soulful and tuneful classic.

The band really adds to the brilliant sound of The Opera House, particularly the string section. The unique sound of cello and violins are the glue cementing the rest of the band together.