Usually Steve has a quartet line-up but tonight he surprised us by fronting a two saxophone quintet and they proved ideal for Steve's brand of modern jazz. Tonight we heard a varied programme of standards, bop tunes and some interesting originals all played with a positive vibe that I like to hear when I go out to hear live jazz.
At present the Railway is the only place in this area that has a Tuesday jazz night so let us hope the word gets around and more people get to experience the delights of this atmospheric venue.
To start the year last Sunday we had a visit from sax maestro and educator Mike Hall and tonight we had Ed and Jim, two of the best sax players around with Ed deciding to feature his soprano sax during the second set. His sound on soprano is really something! Jim was on top form also but restricted himself to tenor sax being particularly impressive on that much-played standard Body and Soul.
I think the whole band hit a great groove on Four, Blues for Alice, and Anthropology all being enhanced by the superlative bass work of Gavin Barras, a major asset no matter what the situation.
Tim Franks did his usual stuff on drums and I think that where he positions himself on the bandstand which is on the left hand side, gives him a better sound than if he used the right hand side like most drummers seem to choose. He gets a great sound on his cymbals.
Next jazz gig at the Railway on Sunday, Jan. 9 is reeds player Frank Griffith (see previous post) - Mike Farmer
Nature Boy; The Water Is Wide;Turnaround; Four; Clouds; I Remember April; Alone Together; Body And Soul;The Healing Song; Like Someone In Love; Blues For Alice; Anthropology.
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