FLAMENCO guitarist Juan Martín had to ask for sound levels to be changed when the audience’s winter woollies soaked up too much reverb... but his music was able to summon up visions of dancing barefoot in the sunshine.

These lighter, playful compositions were definitely favourites with a packed auditorium.

However, flamenco is all about drama, and there were plaintive and sombre pieces, majoring on the minor chords.

Martín, a native of Andalucia, Southern Spain, often performs with dancers – or “trotters” as he referred to them – which I’d love to see.

However, on this occasion it was one man in the spotlight, his guitar perched on crossed leg, playing a mix of rumbas, fandangos, tarantas and traditional and his compositions.

These included a piece he came up with when asked to interpret Picasso’s work for the artist’s 90th birthday celebrations.

An emotional Moorish-style Andalusian tango, which won some of the biggest applause of the night, was, he told us, composed as he sat on his terrace looking towards the coast of Morocco.

Flamenco’s signature strumming – the rasgueado – was summoned thanks to Martín’s fluid wrist while essential percussive thumps and taps on the guitar came thanks to his fearsome fingernails.

His thumbnail broke during the performance leading to a few missed notes and an amusing session with the nail file, which had him back on top form.

Juan Martín was billed as being voted one of the top three guitarists in the world by Guitar Player magazine. He was actually voted one of the top three flamenco guitarists in the world – no mean honour itself. He has produced 15 albums and popular guides to playing flamenco guitar.

I confess to being no expert, but I loved his music, and he certainly won a houseful of enthusiastic applause.

Lesley Oldfield