Glen Cartledge (guitar); Mike Hall (tenor sax); Ed Harrison (bass);
Jack Cotterill (drums).
This line-up was an interesting one as Mike Hall had been called in at the last minute and Glen mentioned that it was the first time he had played with drummer Jack Cotterill although he recalled playing with Jack’s grandad Pete Cotterill at the Bakers Vaults a great jazz dive in Stockport that in its heyday used to feature some great bands.
Before things got under way I had a quick chat with Glen and asked him
about his guitar. He told me it was a Gibson L5, the same model used by the
late great Wes Montgomery. I must admit I know next to nothing about guitars
but I’m pretty sure anyone who plays a Gibson is serious about his music. Glen
also plays baritone sax in a local big band and like me loves to talk about the
jazz scene.
The first number of the evening was Benny Golson’s tune Killer
Joe, a number which is featured on the first LP that the Jazztet made in
1960 for Argo called Meet the Jazztet, an album I still have.
Mike’s tenor had a harder sound than Golson’s but his solo was interesting and
Glen played some nice chords during this tune.
I sensed a little uncertainty during April in Paris but
this is a tricky tune for a quartet to tackle but, thank god, they omitted the One
more time coda. Never did like that.
Mike Hall relishes playing fast and when Glen called Ray Noble’s Cherokee I
knew what to expect. I like to hear this tune with two tenors on the bandstand,
or even three battling it out but it brought the first set to a fitting
conclusion.
The second half commenced with Just Friends and
continued with a ballad, My Foolish Heart, a tune which I’ve never
been too keen on, but for the final half hour things moved up into bebop
territory with some fine playing from everyone on Straight No
Chaser and Anthropology.
The next jazz at the Railway is Tuesday Jan. 25 with the Shearing
Sound - Bryan Pendleton, Dave Luckhurst and Paul Hartley. Mike Farmer
Killer Joe; Days of Wine and Roses; My Funny Valentine; Confirmation; April in Paris; Cherokee; Just Friends; My Foolish Heart; Softly as in a Morning Sunrise; Straight No Chaser; Anthropology.
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