Barb Dylan

Sadly, I didn't get to see Bob Dylan on his latest visit to the UK. By all accounts, he played a memorable three nights at the Albert Hall...

But a woman called Barb Jungr more than made up for my disappointment when I saw her singing her all-Dylan show – not so much a tribute act, but more an extended love letter to, from and about the great and mysterious Bob.

I have never heard anyone get so deep into the music of Dylan as Jungr did. And her passionate interpretations of the master's classics, as well as a few lesser known works, had me in tears more than once during the evening.

I confessed this to Jungr after the show, and she took my hand, as if to say: "Yes, it's powerful stuff... it's ok to cry."

In performing Dylan, she seems transported into that place where a singer performs at their utmost intensity. If you ever have a chance to see this show, don't miss it...

Ears Wide Open

I've been away... I'm back...

I thought I knew how to listen to music. It's something that I've been doing all my life, it seems.

And I suppose if the truth be told, a lot of the music that I've listened to 'live' has been on the loud side. And occasionally much too loud.

An effect of that has been finding some music much too quiet.

That was how I felt at a concert of early sacred music by the BBC Singers at St Paul's, Knightsbridge, a few nights ago.

The music – including pieces by Cornysh, Taverner, Horwood, Lamb and Wylkynson – was superb but I just wanted to turn up the volume to get the full effect.

Maybe years of listening to heavy blues and rock had taken its toll, and I was starting to lose my hearing, I thought.

In the interval I mentioned this to the person sitting next to me, and she explained the simple solution: "Listen with your eyes closed."

For the second half of the concert, I did just that. And she was right. The effect was remarkable. And the music pierced my heart and soul – as well as my ears.