One of the world's most influential artists held a capacity crowd at the Brighton Centre transfixed with an evening of brilliantly-played rock.

Bob Dylan used Saturday night's concert as a showcase for songs from his latest album Love And Theft and to revisit tracks from one of the most impressive back catalogues in modern music.

Songs such as Moonlight, Mississippi and Tweedle Dee And Tweedle Dum more than held their own when paired with some old favourites such as the anthem A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall and Tangled Up In Blue.

The songwriter has described the latest CD as a greatest hits album without the hits. It is his most accessible work for years.

Although, at heart, these were arranged as rootsy country rockers, the style of songs encompasses a range of genres including blues, folk and even swing - Dylan goes eclectic if you will.

The voice isn't what it used to be but then Dylan's strength has always been as a songwriter.

Fresh arrangements and vocal interpretations to classics such as Mr Tambourine Man, Like A Rolling Stone and Subterranean Homesick Blues gave them a new edge.

Dylan was supported by the band he has been steadily been fine-tuning on the road for some years now and the hard work has paid off as they were rock solid.

Larry Campbell played some stunning slide guitar while blues and rock guitarist Charlie Sexton, who is another in-demand session player and a songwriter in his own right, shone, especially when given a free reign for All Along The Watchtower.

The interplay between the two and with Dylan was one of the many highlights of the show. They chipped in with occasional backing vocals to flesh out tracks such as I Shall Be Released.

Tony Garnier provided bouncy and flowing rhythms on his double bass and bass guitar and the whole thing was held together superbly by drummer Jim Keltner.

The prodigious playing, the minimalist stage setting and the rapt audience made it feel a little like watching The Last Waltz by The Band all over again.

He may be a legend and knockin' on 62 but Dylan seemed genuinely moved by the warmth and enthusiasm of the applause, which is, perhaps, why he is still on the road and writing brilliant songs after more than 40 years.