The James Hunter Six played hard and well — and all-too-briefly — during a soul-fueled concert on a snowy, icy, 20-degree night Feb. 9 at the Grey Eagle Music Hall in Asheville’s River Arts District. 

The group, featuring Hunter, the acclaimed British soul singer and rhythm and blues musician, played just one 75-minute set that included a rousing encore — “Talking ‘bout My Love”

About 125 people attended the show — a much smaller turnout than usual that was blamed on the weather. Despite its size, the crowd swayed to the 1960s-style American soul music, cheered — and some even danced.

Hunter is especially noted for his masterful singing of ballads, with some music afficianados saying he channels funky and soulful Jackie Wilson, or silky smooth Sam Cooke, or the-gospel-with-an-attitude voice of Ray Charles.

Alas, at his latest Grey Eagle show, Hunter performed only one ballad, “People Gonna Talk.” It was hard for this reviewer to believe that his ultra-popular ballad, “Carina” was left off the Asheville setlist.

On the bright side, the group sparkled with the up-tempo “Let the Monkey Ride” and several other numbers.

The band featured Hunter on lead guitar, along with  a standup bassist, keyboardist, drummer and two saxophonists — all of whom have performed with him for years.