On Tuesday evening if you wanted to hear some live Jazz, you had a choice of three events within a radius of ten miles in the Greater Manchester area. I decided to visit my usual jazz spot the Railway to check out the Alex Clarke Quartet. I’ve seen Alex before, but only when she was sitting in at Wilmslow Jazz Club with musicians such as Gilad Altzmon, Alan Barnes and Greg Abate. I also recall an afternoon at one of Malcolm Frazer’s house parties when she sat in with Harry Allen. She does not lack confidence!
In 2019 Alex was a Rising Star in the British Jazz Awards and in 2020 she was a finalist in the BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year competition. If you want to know more about Alex and where she is playing next you will find her web site well worth checking out www.alexclarke.co.uk\ She was ably assisted on this gig by the fluid guitar of Paul Hartley, his son Peter and one of the best drummers in the north west, Phil Bennett.
For this gig Alex decided to feature only the tenor sax, although she also plays alto sax, clarinet and flute, an instrument I once tried to play but decided to stick to the sax. She reminded me a bit with her big sound on tenor of another musician, the late great James Moody.
Most of the tunes played were standards with the exception of Moanin’ which of course was made famous by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. Mike Farmer
Who Can I Turn To?; Mahna de Carnaval;
It’s You Or No One. In A Sentimental Mood; Tangerine; Like Someone In Love;
If I Were A Bell; You And The Night and The Music; Our Love is here To Stay;
Polka Dots and Moonbeams; Moanin’; A Beautiful Friendship.
2 comments :
Great revue Mike, it was a very enjoyable gig. I have a copy of her Mirage CD which is well worth a listen. - Alex Clarke (saxes & flute), Tom Kincaid (piano), Ed Harrison (drums) and Eryl Roberts (drums) . The correct link to her website is http://www.alexclarkejazz.co.uk/
Alex Clarke is a tremendously talented young musician - and blog readers who live in the region will be able to see her at Newcastle's Lit & Phil soon with Mick Shoulder, Dean Stockdale and John Bradford. Friday 22 October 1pm to 2 pm. Book direct from the Lit & Phil on 0191 232 0192. It's going to be a good 'un!
Post a Comment