Steve Winwood, Dome Concert Hall, Brighton, Nov 10, 2008

By Simon Copeland

The Argus

It must be tough when you produce your best work at the age of 60 but everybody prefers to hear hits from 40 years earlier.

But if Steve Winwood was miffed his terrific new album Nine Lives didn’t get the same cheers at the Dome as his old stuff, he was too much of a professional to say.

Winwood may not trouble the charts these days, but his two-hour show proved he’s at the top of his game.

He’s ditched the slick pop for a latin-jazz sound and it’s given him a new lease of life.

Winwood was superb on Hammond organ and guitar and was backed by what must be the best band he’s played with. And, as always, his voice lifts your heart.

Traffic classics such as Light Up Or Leave Me Alone, Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys and Empty Pages were stunningly revamped. There were also thumping versions of I’m A Man and Gimme Some Lovin’.

Among the excellent new songs was one called At Times We Do Forget. Very appropriate too – because it’s easy to forget how good Winwood is.