CRITIC'S CHOICE

Steve Forbert, Tuesday, January 9, at the Little Bear in Evergreen, enjoyed a brief vogue in the late Seventies and early Eighties: He earned ecstatic reviews for his first album (1978's Alive on Arrival), a hit single, "Romeo's Tune," from his second (1979's Jackrabbit Slim) and enduring respect from listeners, in spite of the diminishing commercial returns of his subsequent long-players. But although the years have sanded off some of his boyishness, he's still a vibrant performer who can light up a room armed with nothing more substantial than an acoustic guitar and a mouth harp. Most of all, his new songs are just as strong as the old ones everyone wants to hear him play. Listen and you'll understand.