Michael Heatley traces the career of John Martyn, a true musical maverick

Try to pin down the quicksilver musical soul of John Martyn and he'll just squeeze through your fingers. Few who caught up with London Conversation, his late '60s recording bow for Island Records - he was the first white solo performer on what was then a reggae-based label - could have foreseen his transition from folky singer-songwriter to electric rock-band leader and, now, hip-hop balladeer.

Yet while Bob Dylan, an acknowledged influence, made at least the first change, he never showed the same fascination for sounds and textures as Martyn. The way the Scot applied slapback echo and other effects to the acoustic guitar in the '70s has helped shape the approach of many who followed: a generation led by Brit-winning Beth Orton, owes him a debt, while chart-toppers the Verve selected him as their special guest for a 1998 show, introducing him to a new audience.

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She's the first lady of house, he's a living folk legend. She likes gospel, he likes jungle. They are the odd couple and they're taking progressive trance to new ethereal heights. Via a whole lotta love, Sister Bliss and John Martyn tell Dan Gennoe why they were destined to be together.

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We bring you the brightest gems from the dark recesses of the diamond mine of music. This issue: John Martyn.

Stasera il musicista inglese al «Folk Club»

John Martyn, ritorno dopo la tempesta

Un grande del folk rock: John Martyn è senza dubbio uno degli artisti di maggior pesa fra quanti il «Folk Club» schiera in questa sua undicesima stagione. Leggenda negli Anni Settanta, alternativa europea a Bob Dylan, il musicista inglese arriva stasera sul palco di via Perrone 3 bis (ore 21:15) con un nuovo album («The Church With One Bell») dopo tre anni di silenzio, rèduce da una cura disintossicante che ha definitivamente restituito ai fans un artista che sembrava perduto.