While Tull and front man Ian Anderson might have played "Living in the Past," it was obvious that the talented five-piece band is not resting on its laurels. This was a concert filled with wonderful acoustic music, rare gems seldom heard live, and improvisation at its best.

Who would have figured that in a show filled with new takes on such old hits as "Aqualung," "Thick as a Brick," "Budapest" and, of course, "Locomotive Breath," the best of the best might have been a song written by Bach and an improvised instrumental version of "America" from Leonard Bernstein's "West Side Story"?

It was that kind of night with Anderson, Martin Barre, Doane Perry, John O'Hara and David Goodier unleashing all sorts of musical mischief.

Anderson put his own take on Bach's "Bourrée," an instrumental that seemed strangely appropriate in Abravanel Hall. The result was a wonderful mix of toe-tapping improvisation.

And then there was Tull's version of Bernstein's "America." While the basic tune dominated, Anderson and Barre mixed in portions of everything from the "The Star-Spangled Banner" to "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and even some riffs that sounded like something from Jimi Hendrix. It made for amazing music.

This is a classic rock band whose set included mandolins, a Greek bouzouki, bongos, a tambourine, two flute players, an accordion, a blues harmonica and a harpsichord. One minute fans heard a New Orleans' blues song, then classic rock 'n' roll followed by Anderson going off on a flute binge of everything from new age to jazz to rock.

The band wasn't afraid to take chances with fans, who sold out the Salt Lake show months ago.

For example, after playing "Living in the Past," Tull dusted off "Velvet Green" from the "Songs From the Woods" album. The show was so good that it didn't matter that Tull didn't play lots of old hits.

Some things about a Tull concert never change, though, and Anderson is the main reason.

While the frontman is now 60 and has long ditched his codpiece and bodysuits, 39 years of near-constant touring hasn't dimmed Anderson's stage presence. Whether playing the flute while standing on one foot, using his long arms to emphasize musical riffs, moonwalking across the stage while kicking one foot in the air or acting like a modern-day Fagin, Anderson remains one of rock's classic performers.

If there was one problem with Tuesday's two-hour concert, it was that the words to the songs were sometimes difficult to hear, especially in the back of the hall.

Having seen Tull at the Salt Palace, the Delta Center, the E Center, and most recently at Deer Valley's outdoor venue in 2000, I would have to say this was easily the best concert of the bunch.

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* TOM WHARTON can be contacted at wharton@sltrib.com.

Jethro Tull

* WHERE: Abravanel Hall, Salt Lake City.

* WHEN: Tuesday.

* BOTTOM LINE: Jethro Tull, still fronted by a very active Ian Anderson, thrilled fans with some old hits and new takes on some surprising classics.