A review of In Honour of Jeff Beck, where Paul Mason and an exceptional Sydney ensemble celebrate Beck through fearless, expressive musicianship.
There are some artists whose musical fingerprints are so distinctive that paying tribute to them is an intimidating proposition. Jeff Beck was one of them. A guitarist revered not merely for his technique, but for his extraordinary touch, tone, imagination and almost vocal command of the instrument, Beck continually pushed beyond the expected boundaries of rock, blues and fusion.
So it took something approaching Tommy Emmanuel-level courage for Australian guitarist Paul Mason to conceive and lead "In Honour of Jeff Beck" at Sydney’s Factory Theatre - an ambitious, one-night-only undertaking featuring no fewer than five exceptional guitarists on the same stage. And Paul successfully delivered an incredible evening of music surrounded by the best of the best on Thursday 24th September, 2026.
Musically, it was superb.
(Photo by Antoine Mikeo)
Mason assembled a formidable line-up: guitar icon Brett Garsed, alongside Ben Rodgers, Franco Raggatt, and Ollie Thorpe, with Mason himself at the centre of proceedings. I loved hearing that the famous slide guitar solo in the John Farnham hit, "That's Freedom," was played by Garsed, who had just performed in Melbourne at John Farnham: Finding The Voice - The Concert, in honour of Farnham.
The mighty rhythm section of Gordon Rytmeister on drums, Noel Mason on bass, and Fenix Martinez on keyboards provided the solid foundation for a program traversing Beck’s remarkable career.
And then there were the voices.
Ollie Thorpe sang extraordinarily well, revealing himself as much more than an impressive guitarist. His vocal performances were assured, expressive, natural, and musically compelling, with Goodbye Pork Pie Hat among the evening’s memorable moments.
Mahalia Barnes, meanwhile, brought exactly the firepower one would hope for. A commanding soul and rock vocalist, Barnes delivered with her characteristic grit, authority, and emotional conviction. A high compliment I can give to a singer is that they are believable. As she sang, I believed every word. "I Put a Spell on You," gave her ample room to unleash that unmistakable voice, while her appearances throughout the night injected another dimension of raw energy into an already strong ensemble.
(Photo by Aussie Greg)
Among the evening’s most transcendent moments for me was "Gut Feeling," featuring Mason and Thorpe.
It was one of those performances in which virtuosity ceased to feel like technique, and simply became music: expressive, searching, and deeply affecting. And what a tune!
Mason’s own compositions were another genuine highlight. The vocal original Won’t Go to Waste, which Mason sang lead vocals on, sat confidently within a program devoted to one of music’s great innovators, while the instrumental Constant Rate demonstrated Mason’s own compositional identity and breathtaking command of the guitar. Rather than merely recreating Beck’s catalogue, these inclusions made the Rather than merely recreating Beck’s catalogue, these inclusions made the evening feel like a living continuation of the creative spirit being celebrated.
Across two expansive sets, the repertoire was wonderfully chosen: Hammerhead, She’s a Woman, Led Boots, Nadia, The Pump, Cause We’ve Ended as Lovers, Scatterbrain, Beck’s Bolero, Heart of Soul and Shapes of Things, among others. People Get Ready became an ensemble celebration, while the encore pairing of Rainbow and the explosive Goin’ Down sent the evening out at full throttle.
Special mention must go to Fenix Martinez, whose keyboard work was outstanding throughout, and drummer Gordon Rytmeister, whose extraordinary musicianship brought power, precision and responsiveness to this demanding repertoire.
Mahalia announced Gordo at the end as, "one of the best we've got," and there is no doubt that every musician in Australia would agree with that statement.
(Photo by Aussie Greg)
Bassist Noel Mason, Paul’s twin brother, was equally integral. A simply fantastic musician and performer.
The Mason brothers have long been part of the fabric of Sydney’s music scene, and seeing them anchor a project of this scale together was particularly satisfying.
With five guitars, keyboards, bass, drums, and multiple vocalists, the potential for sonic congestion was considerable. Instead, Robbie Macpherson’s excellent live mix gave the music clarity, impact, and space.
The sound was excellent.
Numerous audience members, with many musicians and music lovers present, commented on just how good the sound was - well deserved recognition for an exceptionally challenging mix.
Ultimately, In Honour of Jeff Beck succeeded because it was never simply an exercise in imitation. It celebrated Beck in the most appropriate way possible: through adventurous musicianship, spontaneity, individuality, and fearless playing.
Paul Mason didn’t take the easy road in mounting this extraordinary project.
He took the Beck road.
And it was exhilarating.
Paul Mason is an Australian guitarist, composer, and performer of Wiradjuri and convict descent. He is a highly versatile musician working across jazz, rock, and contemporary music, recognised for his expressive playing and musical range. Paul has performed alongside artists including Sting, Harry Connick Jr., Jessica Mauboy, and James Morrison, as well as the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. He has also appeared as a solo artist at major festivals including the Adelaide International Guitar Festival and The Girrakool Blues Festival. You can follow Paul on his social media channels, so you don't miss out on the next one, or anything he is up to!
(Photo by Antoine Mikeo)
Reviewed by: Simone Waddell