When Brazilian songwriter Marcos Valle had a record-breaking hit in the 1960s with Summer Samba (So Nice), he was in his early 20s, much younger than the rest of the bossa nova generation. Nearly four decades on, he's still writing fresh, tuneful material, a youthful-looking 60-something touring Europe with a six-piece band. This is his only London date, so Momo's opulent basement is packed with local Brazilians and music-loving clubbers, many of whom have discovered Valle through his releases on the UK-based FarOut label.

The band opens with Nova Bossa Nova, the title track of a recent album, with nice flute from Renato Franco and the leader's own electric piano. The club really jumps when he sings The Crickets Sing for Anamaria (covered by Emma Bunton, among others), its repeated phrases building up a laid-back tension. Valle often uses wordless vocals, or repetitive, syncopated phrases that are like instrumental hook lines - this may be why his songs travel so well. Some numbers, such as the moody Lost in Tokyo Subway and Vem, a raggy waltz, are almost entirely instrumental, making the most of Franco's decorative solos and Mazinho Ventura's supple bass. Yet this is not a jazz group dying to stretch out - the tunes are the thing: Parabens, Escape, Passatempo and a flute-sweetened Summer Samba, sung in Portuguese.

There are times when Valle's keyboards are too busy, as if he were playing solo. In this tiny space, his guitar-playing is more sparse and effective. (He also blows a few appealing solos on melodica.) Patricia Alvi sings second vocals, adding a high harmony or subtle support.