The first tune of the evening It Could Happen To You turned out to be highly appropriate as drummer George Grundy explained to a small group of jazz fans that the trumpet player had gone to another Railway Pub in Stockport. Fortunately, it was close by and the problem was solved by making the opening number a feature for Richard Jones on the house upright piano plus bass and drums.
Grundy went on to say that the first time he was booked to play at this venue he tripped as he was arriving and had to go to A and E which put him out of action, On his second visit here, during the first tune, the bass player received a phone call and had to dash off home to deal with a family emergency. Hope George’s luck improves!
Anyway, Aaron Wood arrived and after a short warm-up went straight into Monk’s Let’s Cool One, a tune I used to like playing. I wonder if Aaron has heard Clark Terry’s version from the Riverside LP In Orbit which has Thelonious in a rare sideman role? I remember Aaron impressed me when I heard him as part of Mike Hall’s Octet playing alongside Alan Barnes at a concert in Cheadle in the pre-lockdown era.
I've seen Bim Williams here on two previous occasions but then he was playing his main instrument which is guitar and this is the first time I have heard him on double bass. Bim's based in Manchester and I believe he is playing this month at the Kings Arms, Salford on August 28. George Grundy is a fine drummer and his quartet is well worth checking out out if they play in your area.
The way things are happening in the world right now we need more jazz. I’ll be along to the Railway on Sunday to listen to the Helen Pillinger and Carole Williams Quintet. Mike Farmer
It Could Happen To You; Let’s Cool One; Just Friends; Nobody Else But Me In the Making of the Blues; Take the A Train; Perdido; On the Trail; 'Round Midnight; Rubber Bottom
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