Steve Winwood
Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms
25th April, 2007

View: gratifyingly close

The warm atmosphere of this three-hour show revealed Steve as a man comfortable with all stages of his career. We were treated to Spencer Davis hits (a throwaway Somebody Help Me and monstrous Gimme Some Lovin’), Traffic classics from early (Medicated Goo) to later (Light Up Or Leave Me Alone), via Blind Faith (Can’t Find My Way Home). Landing at solo years, his most commercially successful period (Higher Love, etc) sounds his artistically weakest, but his latest album shows him at the peak of his powers (his cover of Why Can’t We Live Together is an unexpected highlight). Winwood surrounds himself with the cream of sessioneers, and saxophonist Paul Booth and guitarist Tim Cansfield are sensationally funky. Winwood’s silken Hammond, glorious bass and voice caused the audience to pinch itself. Dear Mr Fantasy indeed.

Reviewed by Oliver Gray
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