Suzanne w. Wally Davis in 2016 |
One of the most popular jazz musicians to be seen and heard at the Railway is trombone maestro Suzanne Fonseca and if you want to get a good seat, get there early because the room is usually almost full before she plays a note! She is somewhat of a legend in the North West and rightly so - she really is an awesome player with a great sound and making it all look so easy, but I daresay it is anything but.
About two years ago Suzanne usually fronted a quintet which featured Wally Davis, an old friend of mine, on tenor, alto and soprano sax who, like me, was a big fan of the great Sonny Stitt.
Wally, I believe, is now living in Glasgow and I hope he hasn’t stopped playing, he really had a handle on the bebop style. Since Wally moved north Suzanne has been using a quartet formula with the acoustic house piano being utilised so using guitar tonight surprised me but it worked a treat.
Some random thoughts re the gig. Adrian Wilkinson played on Blue Bossa, Perdido, and Caravan and stayed on for the rest of the tunes. He is a neighbour of Suzanne's and plays in the sax section of the well-known Syd Lawrence Big Band. Danny Ward another Manchester drummer did great stick and brushwork and Ed Harrison played some tasty solos as he always does. Jim Faulkner is one great guitarist and I have used him myself on many occasions. You may know him from his work with Gavin Barras’s Family Tree Group.
Fifteen tunes were played which is over average and not one blues! Mike Farmer
All the Things You Are; You Stepped Out of a Dream; Stella by Starlight; Have You Met Miss Jones; London by Night; Pennies from Heaven; Blue Bossa; Perdido; Caravan/Take the A Train; Out of Nowhere; September in the Rain. There Will Never be Another You; Honeysuckle Rose; Bésame Mucho.
1 comment :
Great gig! Really enjoyed it.Superb atmosphere
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