Bert Jansch

Those of us crammed into the tight rows of St Bride's church are here to pay homage to one of the greatest guitarists of the modern era. A man who not only revolutionised the way the acoustic guitar is played, but who has been a major influence on almost every guitarist of note since the 60s. Johnny Marr of The Smiths idolised him. Jimmy Page worshiped him to the extent that he nicked one of his songs wholesale for inclusion on Led Zeppelin I. He is of course, Bert Jansch.

Always an unassuming character, Jansch arrives with his one acoustic guitar and quickly gets down to business. To the uninitiated, Jansch's voice might seem a bit flat. He doesn't really talk much between songs. In fact, as a live spectacle, he doesn't look much. But that matters not a jot when he starts to play guitar. The notes flow seamlessly from him, melodies of aching beauty and melancholy. Obvious choices such as 'It Don't Bother Me' fit nicely next to more recent numbers.

Jansch has been doing this for over forty years now, and his professionalism is faultless; he never misses a note. This does add a slightly clinical feeling to proceedings, and its hard to tell where perfection ends and apathy begins on Jansch's part. These are minor quibbles however, the music is always a consistent joy. The audience, a broad mix of ages, lap up every song Jansch will play, and demand an encore from him. This he dutifully supplies, before departing with a smile and a nod. Unassuming, but always brilliant, Jansch is still an extraordinary peformer.