This was billed as the London guitar festival's celebration of 60 years of British blues, but Jack Bruce hasn't been playing for quite that long. He first shook up the British music scene a mere 50 years ago, as a teenager, when he joined Alexis Korner and Cyril Davies in the massively influential Blues Incorporated, before going on to work with John Mayall, Cream and Tony Williams; in the process he developed one of the most distinctive, driving bass styles in blues, rock and jazz.
Now 68, he started the show with an unexpected reminder of his harmonica skills, with Cyril Davies's Send for Me. Then he switched to bass for a set that included songs popularised by Buddy Guy and Albert King, in which his sturdy instrumental work, and the backing from guitarist Tony Remy and brass players in his Big Blues Band, was far more impressive than his singing. Bruce may be known for his powerful voice, but here he was often swamped by the band.
He urgently needed a sidekick to help out, and on came the dapper Joe Bonamassa. He may be American, but he's heavily influenced by UK blues-rockers, and he began with Midnight Blues, a tribute to the late Gary Moore in which he showed off his fluent, non-flashy guitar work and sturdy vocals. Bruce now sounded like a man transformed. He moved to piano for a thoughtful Theme from an Imaginary Western, and ended with Cream favourites, with Bonamassa playing the role of Clapton as they powered through a triumphant White Room, Politician and Sunshine of Your Love, with reminders that Bruce wrote some of the finest riffs in rock history.
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