Freddie Garner Quartet @ the Railway, Stockport - March 6

Freddie Garner (keys); Jim Collins (alto/tenor sax); James Adolpho (bass); Phil Bennett (drums)

A veteran of the Manchester be-bop scene,  85 years of age and still showing no sign of slowing down, Freddie Garner has an energetic style of playing that reminds me of the late great Hampton Hawes. Anyone who goes to one of Freddie’s gigs will hear some tunes that may be familiar - like the Jerome Kern standard Yesterdays - but will also hear some unfamiliar tunes like Silver’s Serenade, a number from the prolific pen of Horace Silver. 

For tonight's gig Freddie had a great rhythm section who were well equipped to deal with some quite challenging material. James Adolpho had an important part to play on the opening number Funkallero  the Bill Evans composition and he played it well.

Jim Collins is usually in the front line of Freddie’s bands and is equally proficient on both alto and tenor saxes. His solos are always interesting and logical. He never seems short of ideas and I like his sound which is hard-edged post-Trane.

Freddie likes to include at least one ballad in his performance and this was Old Folks which was also featured during Dean Stockdale's gig on Feb 27. I find it interesting that some tunes, like this one, suddenly become popular again with musicians and before long everyone is playing them. Jim Collins showed us his sensitive side with his version. 

The final tune of the evening was one that not many bands play as it is fiendishly difficult - Eternal Triangle written by Sonny Stitt and recorded by him alongside Sonny Rollins and Dizzy Gillespie. It was a fitting finale to an excellent evening of exciting modern jazz.

The next jazz at the Railway is on Tues March 8  with the Paul Hartley Quartet featuring Mike Hope - Mike Farmer

 

Funkallero;  Yesterdays; Up Jumped Spring; Silver’s Serenade; Old Folks; Speak Low; Cook’s Bay; If I Were a Bell’; Recorda-Me; Au Privave; Eternal Triangle.