It was with some surprise that I realised it had been three years since I last saw the stupendous Level 42 in concert at Oxford - it felt much less than that. Nothing had changed . . . their loyal fans - the New Theatre was full - were out of their seats clapping and cheering before the guys even hit the stage. It may be 25 years since Level 42 first topped the charts, but the fans' enthusiasm remains undiminished. Band-leader and bass maestro Mark King summed it up with a grin: "Age shall not weary them."

Oxford was the last England gig of their autumn tour, and the band gave one hundred per cent. Level 42's sound was always unique, and still is - a fabulous jazz/funk mix that you just can't sit still to. This time Mark was joined by original band member Mike Lindup whose talent shone through on the keyboards and vocally. Completing the line-up are the younger guys - Gary Husband, Lyndon Connah, Nathan King and Sean Freeman. They are all consummate musicians, and I lost myself in the feelgood sounds of a band who know exactly what they are doing, and where they are going.

So popular have Level 42 been since their reunion tour four years ago that they are now making new music in the form of the recently released album Retroglide. The band treated the audience to several of their new numbers but it was, of course, the old favourites that really delighted the fans: Hot Water, The Chinese Way, Something About You, Lessons in Love, Running in the Family . . . they were all there.

Level 42's heyday was the 1980s and early 1990s and, during that time, they had 18 Top 40 hits and sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. Well, I can confirm that the magic is still there and I, for one, will be first in the queue when next they tour. It just confirms that old bands don't die - they come back better than ever!