While the Back To The Beginning anthology, also issued by the same label, provides an excellent overview of the rich back catalogue of the ‘godfather of acid jazz’ this recent live set shows that Auger is still firing on all cylinders on stage. Although his history reaches right back to the 1960s the performance, in the company of the current incarnation of Oblivion Express, arguably the most creative band he has ever led, draws mostly on his 1970s songbook. While the collision of jazz, funk, rock and blues loses none of its raw power in the hands of a skilled bandleader like Auger the thing that stands out is the brilliance of the original writing, the highpoints of which are ‘Happiness Is Just Around The Bend’ and ‘Straight Ahead’. That said, the verve brought to covers of Eddie Harris' ‘Freedom Jazz Dance’, Marvin Gaye's ‘Inner City Blues’ and Wes Montgomery's ‘Bumpin’ On Sunset' also hits home. A welldrilled welldrilled band does justice to the material, locking down the rhythms to enable Auger to solo with his trademark simmering soulfulness, but the input of original OE singer Alex Ligertwood is crucial, imbuing the sound with just the right amount of grits ‘n’ gravy.