Guitarist Wizz Jones and son Simeon, a multi-instrumentalist, drew their usual loyal following to Green Note on 23 March. Opening for them was Dariush Kanani, young guitarists who’s won the respect and admiration of players with many more miles on their belt – among them Stefan Grossman and Gordon Giltrap, who has noted that he ‘somehow captures the spirit of great players like Bert Jansch and John Renbourn and makes it his own’. Indeed, his album, Mr Troubadour, is dedicated to Renbourn, ‘friend and mentor’.

Both guitarists honoured the great bluesmen who provided their first inspiration, with Dariush also paying musical tribute to Jones. In addition to his celebrated hommage to the great Mississippi John Hurt, a musical father if you will, Wizz also performed ‘Burma Star’, his touching song to his late father. He returned home one evening when Wizz was six, in his pyjamas and ready for bed – his mother had to explain that the strange man was his father, who never spoke of his ordeal. Other numbers from a songbag stretching back over more than a half century  included ‘Night Ferry’ and ‘When I Leave Berlin’.

A foot-stomping evening by an old pro and a new talent who’s got a lifetime ahead of him on the road.

Catch Wizz Jones at a gig near you  and Dariush Kanani.