Couldn't Love You More, John Martyn, (Festival).

BLESSED with a deep and soulful voice, the Glaswegian guitarist-vocalist has been faulted in recent years for more style than substance.

From the first moments of the opening song, Lonely Love, Martyn achieves a seductive sound with a blend of majestic, husky vocal and lush backing including keyboard, saxophone, drum, congas backing.

John Martyn fans will probably be disappointed with this album. Joe Cocker fans, however, might think it's great. A famous Irish folkie who now has an English accent seems to have sold his soul for concert commercialism. It's very sad.

Martyn's score for modernism

John Martyn celebrates 20 years as a professional musician with Piece By Piece, an album that is both contemporary and a showpiece for his instrumental vocals.

John Martyn, 1983 style

"The first one's for you," John Martyn told the capacity audience at Her Majesty's Theatre on Tuesday as he ripped into a song which has become almost his signature tune, May You Never.