Bruce Hornsby, O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire - review

At 57, there's an easy assurance to the American's playing - something that allowed him to construct his three-hour set largely from requests - and he made this 2,000-capacity venue feel like his rather spacious front room.

Where's The Club? was a rambling, Randy Newman-style ballad; Twenty Twenty Vision veered left into bluegrass; and Spider Fingers included the first (and presumably last) use of the word "prestidigitation" in popular song.

An understated cover of Bonnie Raitt's I Can't Make You Love Me drew attention to Hornsby's soulful singing voice. But it was his piano playing that prompted spontaneous bursts of applause. Songs were embellished with sprawling, improvised solos referencing everything from jazz to modern classical.

Entertaining between songs, Hornsby preferred to describe himself not as a "three-time Grammy winner" but as a "10-time Grammy loser". However, the jocular exterior masks a serious social conscience. Talk of the Town lampooned the reaction of the "city council" on hearing about an inter-racial marriage: "They said, you're running with the wrong set / That girl is someone you should never have met."

A pesky crackle from the speakers threatened to spoil some of the quieter moments. But that's just the way it is...

Bruce Hornsby