Al Green is best known for the time a suicidal lover smothered him with hot coals, for his role as a religious leader and for some of the most purifying soul music ever recorded. But a wonder more hasn't been made of his supremacy as a showman.

Within seconds, the Reverend dispenses red roses, falls to his knees and chooses "I just can't stop loving you" as his opening line. He couldn't do more to get the crowd eating out of his hand, short of doling out cutlery and telling everybody to get stuck in.

His voice remains a wonder of the world - as if he is undergoing incredible pain and absolute ecstasy at the same time. It's no surprise he got religion, but the Reverend limits the day job to Everything Is Gonna Be Alright ("He's coming back ...") and a surprisingly moving audience-assisted whisper through Amazing Grace. He's funny - urging us to stand up and "allowing" us to sit down and you've never seen a wiggle quite like that of this 59-year-old pastor.

Some of his more specialised moves are priceless. He sings of being a child watching tears run down his mama's face, while simultaneously removing his jacket. He spins on his heels while hitting notes so high they could induce tinnitus in St Peter.

But the pizzazz is not allowed to distract from the spine-tingling qualities in his music. Backed by a Mississippi band ("I didn't bring musicians from down the road; I brought the folks who cut the music"), he delivers a pleading yet euphoric Let's Stay Together. Take Me to River opens the floodgates. By the time he unleashes Tired of Being Alone with a cry of "Some people wonder if the Reverend's still got it!", the great man has delivered a sermon in true soul.

· At Manchester Apollo (0870 401 8000) on July 12 and Hammersmith Apollo (0870 606 3400) on July 13.