Song number four came with a name, ‘Nostalgia’, but I was none the wiser and subsequently couldn’t find it in my extensive but incomplete JM collection. It became clear (and a tiny bit disappointing) that the set-list did not centre on the new album’s songs as another vintage composition arrived. ‘Hijacked’ is from the early 90s with Joey DeFrancesco and Dennis Chambers on board in my Free Spirits TOKIO LIVE RECORDING. Gary’s work in this performance was nothing short of stunning as passages were attacked with real venom, before slowing down to a more mellow sound and pace. As the song progressed, and for the first time, I noted a strong Eastern influence, especially during JM’s guitar passages. But the highlight of this incredible show was now close at hand…

Two of my most treasured possessions are vinyl and CD recordings of the JM Trio LIVE AT THE ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL, NOVEMBER 27, 1989. Along with JM are two extraordinary musicians in drummer/percussionist Trilok Gurtu, and bassist Kai Eckhardt. ‘Mother Tongues’ is an eighteen-minute track which I’ll shortly be playing on one of our radio shows. It’s a significant track because it allows space for players to shine individually at different phases of the piece, topped and tailed with ensemble playing. And so it was on the night. It started innocently enough with the team in low-gear flow, and then the fireworks started with each player garnering audience applause, and especially Mark who provided a spectacular display - at one point breaking the tip of his drumstick which was hastily discarded onto the stage. He was joined by Gary on the other drum set for a long, incendiary call and response segment that was stunning. But it also illustrated Mark’s playing supremacy over Gary  (and Gary’s no chicken!). To me, Mark feels mood and rhythm like no other drummer I’ve seen (I’ve seen a few…Jim White of the Dirty Three comes close). It was intuitive playing from deep within, and because of this he made his playing look and sound natural (rather like JM). When this explosive display was over, the band become as one again and closed a song performance of legendary proportions, with many audience members providing a standing ovation.

An encore came and went, followed by every single audience member standing to show their appreciation. Something very special happened on a stage in Liverpool that night: the world’s finest guitarist playing alongside much younger men with the skill and ambition to be the very best, playing some of the greatest and most accessible jazz music written in the last 30 years, by JM. I didn’t recognise some of the songs and certainly could not fathom out the detailed nuances of the performance, however, I came away inspired by one the finest contemporary music performances I have witnessed in my lifetime.

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