Fortunately Greg and the members of his backing trio made it to the theatre and the show went ahead as planned. See photo sent to me by Greg.
The next day I met up with Greg and asked him how things went and he told me it was a great gig and attracted an audience of seventy two to the small venue. Here are my thoughts on a CD that Greg recorded in 2013 and having just played it, it sounds a good as any of his later albums.
I have always liked Brubeck. When I was a teenager I used to go to a local hop and the music was rock and roll or pop but the guy who played the records was a Brubeck fan and used to play lots of his music and of course that is when I got to hear the great Paul Desmond. Jazz at Oberlin was one I used to ask him to play and people danced to it!
Greg’s version of It’s a Raggy Waltz I like as he plays soprano on this. The supporting trio are all new names to me but they all do a fantastic job and the pianist Mike Levine in particular contributes some interesting solos Dave Zinno plays bass on I Do Love You; Blue Moon and The Duke.
Dave in Rimouski is the only Abate composition and I must ask Greg about the significance of the intriguing title. The opening tune In Your Own Sweet Way has some great alto work and is further evidence that Greg Abate is a bebopper beyond compare.
In Your Own Sweet Way; It’s A Raggy Waltz; Dave in Rimouski; I Do Love You;Take Five; Mr Broadway; Someday; Blue Moon; The Duke.
The next time Greg is up north will be Nov. 3 at the Lescar Sheffield. Tonight, barring mishaps I will be at the Railway, Stockport to catch drummer Tim Franks’ Quartet. Mike Farmer
No comments :
Post a Comment