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| (© Jeff Pritchard) |
On April 7 I reviewed Gaz Hughes’s latest album entitled Beboperation which was also the name of the opening track. I referred to the tune as a Fats Navarro composition but I was incorrect as in fact it is an original number by Andrzej Baranek who Gaz chose to feature on the first number of tonight's session. Talking to Gaz before the gig started he told me he was looking forward to taking this group on an extensive tour of the UK and Europe commencing March next year. He has already secured fifteen dates and is hoping to fix a total of sixty engagements.
As a departure from his usual playing position, on the left side of the room, Andrzej placed his keyboard on the bandstand close to the drums with the bass to his left. He cranked up the volume somewhat to match the powerful sound that Gaz gets from his drum kit. By nine pm the room had filled up nicely and the trio kicked off with Beboperation with Baranek firing on all cylinders. Nice bass work, as always, from Ed Harrison.
It’s not often you see a drummer playing the melody but this is what happened when the trio did great things on Oscar Pettiford’s Blues in the Closet. Gaz has listened a lot to Art Blakey and has realised that all the best drummers do more than just keep time.
Another number that I particularly liked was Wes Montgomery’s Twisted Blues which Derrick Harris featured when he was here recently. Andrzej really excelled on this - his fingers a blur. To sum up the evening, it was great to hear a trio of this calibre and I am looking forward to hearing them again before too long.
Next jazz night at the Railway is Tuesday April 19 with the Mike Farmer Quartet - Mike Farmer
Beboperation; Have You Met Miss Jones?; I Mean You; Blues in the Closet; Seven Steps to Heaven; Body and Soul. Love You Madly; Oleo; Send in the Clowns, Twisted Blues; Stompin' at the Savoy; Prelude to a Kiss; Softly as in a Morning Sunrise.
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