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| (© Jeff Pritchard) |
Gavin is frequently seen at the Railway playing in various bands but I can’t recall the last time he was here as a bandleader. He brought along for this Sunday evening gig three excellent musicians who were new to me and who were all from the Leeds area. Taking centre stage was tenor man Matt Cliffe who started the concert with an uptempo blues by Sonny Rollins, Sonnymoon For Two. He was using a vintage Conn tenor and produced the big hard bop sound that I like to hear. He also impressed with his take on Fats Waller’s great composition Jitterbug Waltz which he chose to play on flute.
As expected there were plenty of bass solos from Gavin who used his bow to good effect on the melody of Body and Soul and also took a long solo on Parker’s Dexterity during which he slid in some quotes from Steeplechase and Rhythm-a-ning. The piano was in good hands with Tom Harris reminding me of Brubeck, Monk, and Dave Burrell who was active during the NYC loft scene. Actually I’ve just remembered I’ve seen the drummer Miles Pillinger playing here on two previous occasions so he is definitely not a new face to me. He is one guy to watch out for and he drove things along with his high energy approach.
In the second set we heard the Edgar Simpson tune Stompin' at the Savoy. Why has this number become so popular with jazz groups recently? I’ve already heard three versions played at this venue in the past two weeks! Gavin’s band did a fine version though. I wonder if Matt has heard Gene Ammons do this tune on his album, Boss Tenor? The final number was Blue Monk a blues that was used by the Ford Motor Co to introduce new models to their salesmen.
The next jazz night at the Railway is March 7 with the Ed Kainyek Quartet 9:00pm-11:00pm. Mike Farmer
Sonnymoon For Two; Footprints; Dexterity; Jitterbug Waltz; It Could Happen to You; On Green Dolphin Street; All The Things You Are; Body and Soul; Stompin’ at the Savoy; Blue Monk.
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