Review: Curtis Stigers, Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, April 1.

By Keith Hunt.

Cool saxman Curtis Stigers is probably most remembered in this country for a couple of big pop hits in the 1990s - You're All That Matters To Me and I Wonder Why - and bravely mentoring TV presenter Penny Smith in the reality singing contest Just The Two of Us.

Now in smart suited middle-age and divested of his long shampoo ad style locks, the Idaho-born jazzman showed at Canterbury's Marlowe Theatre that he is still very much a smooth operator.

Backed by a quintet of piano, trumpet, drums, guitar and double bass, Stigers showed no signs of weariness having flown back from a Moscow gig in the early hours to continue his UK tour.

Most of his music is pretty laid back anyway, as demonstrated on his latest album Let's Go Out, which featured heavily during the show, but he can also stoke things up, as on his opener, the Elvis Presley hit That's All Right, Mama.

Stigers is also endearingly funny with his rambling yarns. He informs us his songs are either sad or about sex. He knew one was definitely about sex, he said, because he wrote it.

Occasionally, there is a song that is "not sad". We also learn that he has given in to social networking and joined "Mytwitface". He has actually only succumbed to Facebook and implores us: "Please like me!"

Stigers is not afraid to tackle covers head-on and turn them into something completely different, as with Michael Jackson's You Are Not Alone, or give a fresh twist to John Lennon's Jealous Guy and a couple of Bob Dylan classics.

Stigers also seemed impressed with the new theatre, having appeared there once before, enthusing: "It used to be really nice, but now it`s really, really nice."

On the last visit he didn't get a chance to go into the "town, city, village", but did so this time and had a pint at the "Thomas something". A drink was on the cards in the interval too and he promised it would make them sound even better.

That would be hard to imagine as the buzzing audience could have no complaints about such a polished performance from Stigers, both vocally and instrumentally, and masterful musicians like John "Scrapper" Sneider (trumpet), Matthew Fries (piano), Cliff Schmitt (bass), and Keith Hall (drums).

The evening wouldn't have been complete without (What's So Funny `Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding, which featured on the 40-million selling The Bodyguard soundtrack and gave writer Nick Lowe a very nice pension fund.

While most performers would prefer to put their feet up after a show, Stigers was soon in the bar area, a glass of red wine in hand, signing CDs for a long line of fans.

We liked him a lot.