A noisy, international audience jammed themselves into the diminutive Jazz Café and went wild for the ever-popular Mark King and his band of ex-Level42 sidesmen. They were treated to an enthusiastic rendition of songs from across Mark King's career, from the early-ish Level 42 song "Kansas City Milkman", through the stadium favourites like "Hot Water" and "The Chinese Way", and into the post-Level42 "One Man" album and the brilliant mail-order-only "Trash" demo collection.

Keyboard riffs, brass stabs, backing vocals and guitar solos were all sung by the audience, to Mark's clear amusement and, being the last night of a five-day residency, everyone onstage (such as it was, apperaing to be barely larger than a king-sized bed, no pun intended) seemed relaxed and in a mood to have a good time. Not even the announcement halfway through that the show was being recorded affected the relaxed performances and interactions, and as a unit the band were excellent. I was particularly impressed with Nathan King, who I'd not seen before and whose tone and skill on the guitar coupled with his stage presence were great, a disintegrating pedal-board notwithstanding.

All in all, a great night's entertainment, sadly in a small venue because more people should hear this fine, danceable, funky, rocky, infectious yet skilfully-crafted and intelligent music. I look forward to hearing the results of what was recorded.

If there's any justice, this will lead on to solid record company support for a man who is still one of this country's finest writer/performers, and who, although the wrong side of 40, commands a loyal and vociferous fan base that many a new fly-by-night act would never get.

The Songs (possibly not quite in order):

The Band:

(c) Martin Best 1999