Fifty-two-year-old John Martyn (right) began his professional career under the guidance of Scottish folk artist Hamish Imlach, although he cites as his earliest influences the music of Claude Debussy and French impressionist painting. Known primarily as a folk artist, Martyn has intuitively dabbled (and impressed) with jazz-arranged work. Martyn's oeuvre remains challenging, his lyrics simultaneously sharp and acerbic, his guitar playing unique and superbly wrought.
His welldocumented battles with drink 'n' drug demons at an end, he plays Dublin's Vicar Street next Wednesday.
:quality(70)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/irishtimes/5824937e-a16e-4f9e-bb1c-62513100375f.png)