WHAT an inspired combination: Two of the most influential popular musicians of their generation plus a string quartet with attitude.

The climax of a memorable gig was their interpretation of that classic by The Beatles, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, with Joe Jackson on grand piano, Todd Rundgren on rhythm guitar and fiddle player Todd Reynolds adding Eric Clapton's famous lead guitar solo.

But what went before was just as good.

Ethel paid homage to music from Finland and India plus American spirituals and Mississippi delta blues, occasionally stamping their feet to emphasise the beat. The violins, viola and cello were played with great vigour, intensity and lyrical beauty.

Joe Jackson showed what a class act he is, playing inventive piano arrangements of his greatest hits, including Is She Really Going Out With Him? and Different For Girls.

He also gave an entertaining performance of a popular pub song from 1913 to herald his cameo role in a forthcoming film entitled The Greatest Game Ever Played. Look out for the dapper gent in a bowler hat tinkling the ivories in an East End boozer.

American Todd Rundgren once said he had "the whitest voice in rock". Now, in his late 50s, his vocal cords could still take the strain as he performed soulful songs at full power, either on piano and guitar.

He also has a nice line in humour. He stopped playing midway through his "greatest hit", I Saw The Light, to hail a bitter-sweet guitar chord. It was so nice he played it twice.

Play it again Todd, and Joe, and Ethel.

Updated: 11:26 Friday, June 03, 2005