I've been badgering Martin for ages now to book Jane Taylor since I discovered her while trawling the Internet well over a year ago, because as far as I am concerned she is a top quality artist and I thought she would be appreciated by the Acoustic Sussex regular audience. Finally, tonight my determination bore fruit and she appeared at The Ravenswood in the Baronial Hall on a double bill with American, Buddy Mondlock.

Jane is far too good to be considered a support artist, and I am sad to say that Jane is not yet a household name, but if there is any justice out there in the world she damned well should be, because Jane's music is truly special.

Jane - acoustic guitar and exquisite vocals; shared the stage with Beth Porter on Cello (and an incredible impersonation of dolphin-speak) and Robin Davies on Double Bass. Perfection in general is something rare, but not impossible in life; musical perfection is equally rare and even near perfect is flawed because when it's run it's course, there's the pain of its passing. Listen to the chorus on "Mirror, Mirror". Change a few words and this is what happened to me last night, I didn't quite reach perfect myself and I will have to wait 'till around March for some more of Jane's brain candy. Jane's songs are packed with sad, but pretty melodies and she packs the emotional punch of a real heavyweight, not to forget her solid, fluid guitar work, but her most outstanding feature is her voice control. Very slight traces of Tori Amos here, only more grounded and less other-worldly. Her lyrics are truly inspirational, profound and I suspect many people will be able to relate to them if they have the ability to listen and inwardly digest.

These superb vignettes of life are well supported by the other two with Beth adding some beautiful complementary bow strokes on her cello. For me a well played cello is like an ethereal, slightly melancholic voice which can send shivers down your spine and surely did. As if this wasn't enough, a good rhythmic interaction with the other two was provided by Robin. In all a really outstanding performance by all as I strongly suspected it might be before the night.

As you may know, Acoustic Sussex tends to put on artists who are above average in their abilities, (no pub-rock at AS) and to be honest we have not had many duds so far. In the approximately 50 acts we have put on, on a subjective level, it strikes me curious that some artists who are maybe not the best we have put on can pack audiences in like sardines but someone who is as accomplished as Jane and her friends are, only attract modest numbers. Please trust us, we won't let you down, well not intentionally anyway. Last night's audience were great and I think most of them enjoyed it as much as I did. It is so difficult to make an impression on the general public unless you are there, but like Jane said to me, it's so-o competitive out there. Thank you, Radio Two's Johnnie Walker for Jane's exposure to a discerning audience. Jane's excursion over the air-waves on Johnnie's show certainly made a lot of folk pin-back there ears. It would have been the ideal situation to make a 'live' recording of the performance last night because it was equal if not superior to any studio recording. I feel her time will come.

I had Nick Drake's Black-Eyed Dog in tow last night and in spite of the enjoyment of the evening, when it was over and I got home, with thoughts like seagulls circling over a landfill site, I listened to Jane's album Montpelier and more especially, two tracks called "Landslide" & "Mirror, Mirror" and the lyrics fitted me like a well Taylor'd Glove. Montpelier, is likewise superb and if you bought it last night, listen to it and you'll know what I am talking about, if not, I urge you to buy it and listen.....You'll melt and hopefully reach almost perfect. Jane, you're almost there, you'll be fine.

As I write this, Buddy is maybe two thirds of the way over the pond and home by courtesy of Continental and I am here, not too far from The Ravenswood listening to his music. Buddy, I hope they upgraded you Buddy, 'cos I know what the food's like on first class Continental. You deserve it after what you did for us last night.

When Buddy came on, I had to adjust my ears and my brain, because the music was so different. How would I sum up Buddy? Well, my first impression was of Simon and Garfunkel. That's hardly surprising at all, after all because Buddy has been working with Art Garfunkel lately, and to be honest there is a slight similarity in that Buddy's voice is delivered with softness akin to AG, but there's so much more in his presentation. Song after song came sweeping over us and in those songs when I closed my eyes to hear the tunes of this exceptionally talented word-painter/ musician, I picked up on Paul Simon, Brian Wilson, Stephen Stills, David Crosby, Jackson Browne, Robert McEntee even a very soft version of Bruce Springsteen and even a little of Rufus Wainwright plus myriad others. But Buddy takes on all this style and weaves it all together and it re-emerges exclusively Buddy Mondlock. So impressed were other artists that they took his songs and laid them down as recordings Guy Clark, Nanci Griffith, Guy Clark, Nanci Griffith, Maura O'Connell, Janis Ian, Peter, Paul and Mary, David Wilcox to name but a few.

Ably assisted by Mike Lindauer on bass who also doubles as Buddy's long time buddy and Arsenal Football Club advisor, whom he met in school. Buddy on acoustic guitar and vocals and Mike plays electric bass and vocals. It was extremely surprising that with two diverse musical styles such as Buddy's compared with Jane's that there was a similarity in the skilful poetic word-painting. That certainly floats my boat. Within a couple of numbers, my ears and brain suitable retuned, I sat back and let the magic wash over me. Buddy is a superb guitar picker and Mike serves him well at times sounding like a latter-day Jaco Pastorius with his booming almost bell-like jazz style bass.

 This is my idea of country style music. The albums "Poetic Justice" and "Edge Of The World" are also sublime and contain a lot of material played last night. I can't speak for the other albums but judging by the ones I have heard they couldn't fail. It would be really novel to have this review land on US soil before Buddy and Mike. What a kick that would be!

Wicked Man!

Maximum Bob