Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

There is always a debate on whether it is the atmosphere, the songs or the venue in which the music is played in which gives the night its vibe, its sense of hopefully glorious thrill and heart pounding beauty; a night which if you are fortunate enough to attend will leave you breathless and on the verge of weeping tears of joy of having had the honour of witnessing unfold.

The debate will rage forever more, no one person holds a singular truth of reason when it comes to dissecting a performance, you can only report to others what it means to you, and if you are lucky the conclusion that you come to is that all three play a part, but without doubt the evening as whole belongs to the relationship built between entertainer and the audience; the open doors of the mind a true reflection of just what it means to capture the heart of another person and be allowed to tenderly kiss it to life.

It is to Paul Dunbar & The Black Winter Band that such appeals are made, from an opening segment in which Mr. Dunbar sang and played guitar with majesty a solo rendition of Hallelujah/Hands Down, through to the appearance of the band in all its glory and devilishly intricate nature and the songs of Ballad of Four Eyes, Barely Holding On, The Losing Game, Addicted (Hurricane), Made My peace With You, the phenomenal Earth Sky or the Raging Sea, Contort Yourself and Gospel #7, what was patently obvious was the sincerity of all which combines a top of the range evening, the highly volatile mixture of every possible component rising, expanding, escalating to the crescendo which all hearts seek.

There can be no greater honour than witnessing such a set, seeing an artist of any persuasion truly grab the evening by the scruff of its neck but then patiently and with love show it how to perform, how to conduct itself with sweetness of tone and harmony of spirit.

It is with sincerity handed to the performer that all would surely agree that Paul Dunbar & The Black Winter Band should be considered a group of musicians who could hold their own in the very finest of company.

Ian D. Hall