Dan Garel (alto
sax); Mark Williams (guitar); John Pope (bass guitar); Russ Morgan (drums)
(Review by Russell)
It was billed as
the 'Daniel Garel Quartet' but as it was a Thursday not a Sunday the 'Dan Garel
Quartet' seemed like a better fit. Twelve months on from graduating Dan
returned to Durham to meet up with old buddies Mark Williams, John Pope and
Russ Morgan to play two sets in Holy GrAle on Crossgate.
Holy GrAle had
something to celebrate...the craft tap, bottles and cans emporium first opened
its doors exactly four months ago. Coincidence or not, what a way to mark the
occasion with a top notch post-bop alto saxophonist firing on all four
cylinders! The basement performance space is what you'd call snug. Put a four
piece band into the brick-built, arched low-ceiling cellar (no room for a piano
nor a double bass - spike or no spike) and there is just about enough room to
fit in a 'select' audience. If you'd been led blindfold up Crossgate and
negotiated the stairs you could have been forgiven for thinking you were in a
jazz club on Rue de la Huchette circa 1959. Cool students, students trying to
look cool, sitting on uncomfortable chairs, sitting on the floor (Yeah, man).
Ah, a giveaway...no berets and the accent was more Home Counties than Left
Bank, this was Durham 2019.
It was to be an
evening of GASbook, modern jazz standards and Garel originals. You
Stepped Out of a Dream for starters - a thorough alto saxophone
workout. Fantastic. Garel's Symmetries (first heard when Dan
played it in Newcastle with Group Theory) gave John Pope a first look at the
material as he took the first of several accomplished bass solos. To think he
was sight reading it as he went - amazing!
Tadd
Dameron's Lady Bird then Recorda Me with Dan
diggin', superb playing, unison lines from Dan and master guitarist Mark
Williams a veritable wonder. Irving Berlin's How Deep is the
Ocean? (a favourite of Dan's) rounded off a fabulous first set.
A short interval, a
pint of Durham Brewery's real ale lager Helles Lager, a bit crack with BSH's
Steve T and it was time to descend once again into the subterranean
depths.
A searing opening
statement on a Garel original signalled the resumption of the
standing-room-only gig. Out of Nowhere, a blues - Monk's Blue
Monk - let Mark Williams loose. Those who know Mark's playing will
appreciate the phrase: He went off on one. Every time MW winds up it is a truly
remarkable experience. Dan showed his appreciation.
Garel's Circling
Hours illustrated our band leader's compositional talents and all too
soon we were into the last two numbers - Elvin Jones' Giraffe and
Hank Mobley's This I Dig of You. More sensational playing from Dan,
Mark, John and, the man hidden at the back of the cellar, drummer Russ Morgan.
Dan and John will
do it all again on Sunday at the Globe in Newcastle, this time in the company
of Francis Tulip and Matt MacKellar. 7:30 start, get there early, it's going to
be something special.
Russell
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