"When you collaborate with people you learn a lot," said Martin Simpson. 

The implication being especially when that person is Martin Taylor, MBE. 

This meeting of Simpson's folk acoustic and Taylor's electric jazz styles was inspired and inspiring. 

They started with Cyndi Lauper's Time After Time and went on to cover tunes by Henry Mancini, Bob Dylan and The Carpenters. 

Both men were clearly having fun and Simpson observed that it was "just so easy" playing with Taylor. 

11 years with Stephane Grappelli's band, Taylor effortlessly produced a wonderfully pure fluent sound that almost defied feasibility; incredibly there was bass, chord and melody all at the same time.

Simpson's slide work was sublime, plus he introduced the sold out Shoreham crowd to the magical delights of the EBow guitar effect. 

Each man played solo; Simpson's Heartbreak Hotel a surprise gem. 

There was a confident, jazzier edge to Simpson's usual folk vocal, inspired by Taylor no doubt, and particularly enjoyable for Little Lisa Jane. 

As always at The Ropetackle the sound was spot on and the atmosphere congenial. It was an extra special evening and as Simpson remarked of working with Taylor ... "Good for the soul".