I was expecting a quartet tonight as advertised on the February flyer but only three musicians turned up. Not sure what the reason was but at least it meant we got to hear Andrzej taking a major role in the proceedings. Eleven tunes were played tonight, five being originals by Gaz Hughes, the remainder being composed by Monk. Vic Feldman, George Shearing, Johnny Green, Edgar Sampson and Stephen Sondheim.
I enjoyed what was obviously a well rehearsed trio and a highlight during the first set for me was their take on Stompin’ at the Savoy . a tune named after the famous Harlem night spot. Ed Harrison played a great bass solo on this number which grabbed everyone's attention. He is in the top five of my favourite north west bass players.
The only part of the evening that I wasn’t all that fond of was the Sondheim show tune Send in the Clowns. I’ve never liked that tune and it brought back memories of Sarah Vaughan featuring it during one of the Berlin Jazz Days that I attended. The mainly German audience expressed their disapproval by booing loudly so she finished the number and went into one of her more jazzier songs. They gave the same treatment to Stan Kenton when he played there with the Berlin Dream Band and made the mistake of using old dated arrangements.
In the second half Andrzej played that much loved ballad Body and Soul to perfection, doing a whole chorus solo before Ed and Gaz came in with bass and brushes. Definitely another high-spot. The concert continued with another Gaz Hughes original The Message and finally, to round off a very successful evening, we heard Andrzej go straight into a red hot uptempo blues - Thelonious Monk's Straight no Chaser.
There will be more jazz at the Railway on Feb. 28 with the Paul Hartley Quartet featuring Jim Collins. Mike Farmer
Sticks and Stones; Stompin’ at the Savoy; Send in the Clowns; Beboptical Illusion; Concord; Lullaby of Birdland; Edith; Seven Steps to Heaven; Body and Soul; The Message; Straight no Chaser.
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