Presented as "an unmissable concert celebrating both classical and popular Afghan, Middle Eastern and South Asian musical expression", this fundraising event embraced an impressive dynamic and cultural range: quiet songs by British ethnomusicologists Veronica Doubleday and John Baily (traditional instruments and Afghan clothes), and loud pop/dance music by nonchalant Algerian crooner Khaled (backing tapes, casual shirt and trousers).
The most moving moment was the reunion of exiled Afghan musicians. The Mahmood brothers - Asif and Arif - played together for the first time in 15 years with similarly exiled singer Ustad Mahwash. She closed with her hit O Bacheh (Oh Boy), which, as her harmonium player explained, gave us a rapid tour of Afghanistan's many languages.
Ensemble Kaboul, a band of exiled Afghan musicians founded in Geneva, had a virtuosity reminiscent of Shakti. Featuring Osman Arman on tulak (a bamboo flute) and Paul Grant on santoor (box zither), they sat comfortably on carpet and cushions. Khalid Arman was at the centre of the band, playing the Afghan rubab with the effortless grace of a jazz guitar hero. Tabla player Yusuf Mahmood (Asif's son), whose percussion ensemble had opened the concert, augmented the Ensemble for this occasion. This music captivated the audience, and a tumultuous instrumental climax brought the house down.
Another musical high point came from Johnny Kalsi and the Dhol Foundation, whose 31 drummers walked from the side entrances, thundering their way through the audience before taking the stage in a 16-10-5 formation. Live, the Dhol Foundation's formula is simple and irresistible: lots of unison drumming, a few bits of programmed synths and sampled vocals topped off by even more drumming.
Fantastic. And loud. They were an impossible act to follow, as Taz discovered. The British Asian pop singer came across like Cliff Richard (c1973), complete with shiny suit and blonde go-go dancers in hot pants, singing to a fading backing track.
Iranian stand-up Omid Djalili was a terrific MC, explaining that the Afghans "are the Geordies of the Persian-speaking world", cracking edgy jokes about racial stereotypes and dealing swiftly with multilingual hecklers. The finale brought together exiles, academics, dancers, drummers and friends to sing Layli Jaan: "If we go to dear Kabul, let us sing this song."
· To help the people of Afghanistan, send a cheque payable to the London Concert for Afghanistan to: Suite 122, 37 Store Street, London WC1E 7QF. Website: www.lca2002.org
