There are concerts that come and go in passing and others that you look forward to attending for weeks on end where your anticipation is amply rewarded; experiencing Myles Sanko in concert easily falls into the latter category.

On discovering Sanko at the Nice Jazz Festival in 2017, his superlative performance begged the question – why was this competent soul singer originally from Ghana but raised in Cambridge not more widely known?

Here was an artist whose voice was as immaculate as the white suit he wore, singing his songs so emotionally and soulfully that it touched the heart and, in the lighter moments, put a spring in your step.

His name should be spoken in the same breath as Gregory Porter and the other new newcomers in the soul/jazz genre, though sadly, at least in this country, it never is.

Thankfully, Sanko’s star shines brighter in the rest of Europe – his current tour spans the continent down from Sweden to Spain and across from Portugal to Poland with only a smattering of dates here, which included the Manchester Academy 3 for the lucky fans who have discovered Sanko.

The small and intimate venue normally plays host to rock and indie acts, not one of soul music’s leading new lights. His next visit to Manchester will surely be at the larger Bridgewater Hall or the Apollo, as his name becomes more prevalent.

Tonight, however, was all about connecting with his audience; it helped too when you have a new album that makes that connection even stronger – I See The Light contains ten soulful numbers, with not a dud one amongst them.

Sanko is confident in the strength of his new album – the majority of his set consisted of tracks from what is probably one of the best albums to be released so far this year in the soul/jazz genre.

Don’t Lose Hope set the tone for the evening, a message of looking to the future with renewed energy and hope, which continued with I See The Light before the more jazz-inspired Get In The Zone and Pieces Of Myself.

The cover of the Bill Withers Lovely Day could have maybe been bettered if Sanko had held on to the long note that is associated with the track, though Standing In My Place brought the proceedings back to Sanko’s own compositions.

His five-piece band came to the fore even more so on closing number. Let Go where the Manchester audience had been elevated with a night of genuine talent all delivered with sincerity, soul and solace – now the rest of Europe awaits – lucky them.