Live Review: Booker T Jones, Caiti Baker

Caiti Baker opened the show with a set of soulful and sometimes bluesy songs, accompanied by a keyboardist. Though she had an undeniably great voice, her songs tended to wash over the chattering audience waiting in anticipation for the main act.

Booker T Jones has never been one of those show pony artists full of self-promotion and braggadocio, he's been more inclined to take the humble route and let the kudos come his way naturally and in its own time. Feted as one of the key writers and players from the classic era of the Stax Records studio and as bandleader of the MG's, he's rightly held in high esteem by music lovers as a key figure in popular music. As a result, it was an immense honour to witness Jones and the band paying loving and living homage to some of the most seminal songs in funk, soul and R&B.

Jones cut a fine and healthy figure for a man in his early 70s — gracious, eloquent and clearly enjoying giving the crowd what they wanted to hear. His core band were a younger trio, including his son Ted on guitar, and they played the songs with reverence but definitely not slavish devotion to their original form.

The drummer added a rapid-fire rap to the instrumental Hip Hug-Her, Ted incorporated distorted rock guitar flavours and the bassist stretched out with a tasteful slap bass solo. Two lead singers and a brass duo filled out the ensemble as they gave a musical history lesson that included classics such as the iconic organ groove of Green Onions, Try A Little Tenderness, Knock On Wood, Respect Yourself, In The Midnight Hour, Time Is Tight and Soul Man.

Their excellence as a band lay in their ability to hold a groove, whether that was a fast and energetic one or a low, slow and slinky feel. The solos were impeccable and kept to a minimum, and the two singers tastefully and professionally put their own stamp on the songs. Jones is a master of his craft and with their hip shaking and applause, the audience rightfully acknowledged him as such on this superb night of soul music.