CHATTING to Bert Jansch at his garden flat in Kilburn, North London, it's clear the legendary singer and songwriter is fairly non-plussed about the impact he has had on the current crop of musicians.
"I suppose it's quite nice," says the 64-year-old. "But it doesn't change the way I go about my own business. It's not so important."
Perhaps it's understandable that Jansch, a member of 60s and 70s British folk/jazz 'supergroup' Pentangle, doesn'
t seem to care too much about the influence he's had on the likes of Devendra Banhart, Pete Doherty et al.
After all, since back in the mid-60s, generation after generation have been spell-bound by his extraordinary, groundbreaking guitar playing and classic emotive songs. Jimmy Page, Neil Young, Nick Drake, Johnny Marr, Bernard Butler and Beth Orton have all been devotees.
Into his sixth decade, Jansch - who was born in Glasgow but brought up in Edinburgh, where he attended Pennywell Primary School and Ainsley Park Secondary School - is as active, innovative and influential as he's ever been.
In 2006, he released his much-acclaimed album, The Black Swan, and in March last year a four-CD box set, The Time Has Come 1967-1973, featuring Pentangle's seminal work, plus some previously unheard material, was released to more fanfare.
As he readies himself for a three-night stint at the Acoustic Music Centre – his first gigs since Pentangle's triumphant reunion tour last month – Jansch says he can't wait to get back to playing what he considers his home town.
"I'll be revamping a couple of old ones," he says of what fans can expect. "Also stuff from the overall repertoire, so it will be quite a mixture."
Despite his many accolades, including a Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2001, Jansch says that he still has lots of ambitions he would like to fulfil.
"Oh there's plenty life in me yet," he laughs. "But mainly, I just want to keep going as long as I can."
• Bert Jansch, Acoustic Music Centre@St Brides, Orwell Terrace, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, 9pm, £15 (£12), 0131-346 1405The full article contains 367 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
