There is something marvellously retro about Soho’s Ronnie Scott’s. It’s still very much as it was back in the 60’s, an intimate little club where you can see artists up close and grab a bite of dinner at the same time. It won’t suit every artist because of its’ intimacy, but it’s a glorious venue to connect true musical genius with a discerning and appreciative audience.

One of those is Paul Carrack. A quiet and unassuming man from Sheffield, Carrack has a satiny silken soulful voice that would give Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke and Al Green a run for their money. It’s a voice that’s perhaps better known through hits from bands he’s been in, rather than the man himself. You would know him through singing Ace’s How Long, or Mike and the Mechanic’s Living Years, or Squeeze’s Tempted, but this is a man who has consistently written and performed his music for himself and for others for over thirty years – and still continues to do so.

This was the first of a three night stint at Ronnie Scott’s and with a fine band behind him decked out for the occasion in sharp grey suits he was clearly in his element. Kicking off with the classic How Long, the tempo for the rest of the gig was clear for all to see. Give ‘em what they want to hear! Some of Carrack’s best tunes have been for other bands including The Eagles who had a hit with Love Will Keep Us Alive, a song he co-wrote with Jim Capaldi. They loved it so much they asked him for another for their latest album and so another Carrack classic was born with I Don’t want to hear anymore. Both tunes are given the Carrack treatment in the set and dare I say it, for me are far better than The Eagles versions.

There’s no doubt that by now Carrack knows just what his audiences want and feeds them well with regular hearty chunks of it. He runs through the full list of numbers that have defined his career over the years including a Mike and Mechanics segment of Silent running, Another cup of coffee, Over my shoulder and of course The living years.

His new album ironically entitled I know that name, is a return to his soulful roots and we were treated to some of the cuts from it including Ain’t no love in the heart of the city a rip roaring cover of the great Bobby Blue classic. A finale of Marvin Gaye’s What’s Goin on was the perfect way to end, giving us all a taste of how a good old boy from Yorkshire can mix it with the best Motown had to offer.

Not the most charismatic of performers, he’s a man of few words and clearly prefers to express himself more through his music. And perhaps that’s why he’s never really achieved the mass appeal he deserves. But it’s the voice that gets you. Soulful, melodic with beautiful runs in all the right places, it’s an absolute joy to listen to.