Review of Mark King Group at the Jazz Cafe (from my ex-website)

Mark King - live in London
Jazz Café, London - 26 November 1999

A noisy, international audience jammed themselves into the diminutive Jazz Café and went wild for the ever-popular Mark King and his band of ex-Level 42 sidesmen. They were treated to an enthusiastic rendition of songs from across Mark King's career, from the early-ish Level 42 song "Kansas City Milkman", through the stadium favourites like "Hot Water" and "The Chinese Way", and into the post-Level42 "One Man" album and the brilliant mail-order-only "Trash" demo collection.

Keyboard riffs, brass stabs, backing vocals and guitar solos were all sung by the audience, to Mark's clear amusement and, being the last night of a five-day residency, everyone onstage (such as it was, apperaing to be barely larger than a king-sized bed, no pun intended) seemed relaxed and in a mood to have a good time. Not even the announcement halfway through that the show was being recorded affected the relaxed performances and interactions, and as a unit the band were excellent. I was particularly impressed with Nathan King, who I'd not seen before and whose tone and skill on the guitar coupled with his stage presence were great, a disintegrating pedal-board notwithstanding.

All in all, a great night's entertainment, sadly in a small venue because more people should hear this fine, danceable, funky, rocky, infectious yet skilfully-crafted and intelligent music. I look forward to hearing the results of what was recorded.

If there's any justice, this will lead on to solid record company support for a man who is still one of this country's finest writer/performers, and who, although the wrong side of 40, commands a loyal and vociferous fan base that many a new fly-by-night act would never get.

The Songs (possibly not quite in order):

Just Like That, Stronger, Changing The Guard
Kansas City Milkman, Throwing Sevens, Something About You
Outstanding, Hot Water, Keep Climbing
The Chinese Way, To Be With You Again, Sooner Or Later
Love Wars, World Machine

The Band:
Mark King - Bass, lead vocals
Jakko Jakszyc - Guitar, vocals
Nathan King - Guitar, vocals
Lyndon Connah - Keyboards, vocals
Gary Husband - Drums

(c) Martin Best 1999