Paul Hartley Trio + Jeff Guntren @ the Railway, Stockport - Feb. 27

(© Jeff Pritchard)

Jeff Guntren (tenor sax); Paul Hartley (guitar); Ken Marley (bass); Eryl Roberts (drums).

As Paul explained at the start of show, he had tried to book Jeff Guntren on two previous occasions but Jeff, unfortunately, had had to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances. Originally from Davenport, Iowa, USA, Jeff now resides in Bramhall which is a small village not far from Stockport and he has made a big impression on the local jazz scene with his powerful sound and post-Coltrane playing style. He reminds me of George Garzone who played some gigs in Stockport many years ago as a sideman in John Allmark’s quintet and who can be occasionally seen on the Smalls' NYC live podcasts.

Jeff picked a great number as an opener, Without a Song which many jazz fans will remember from Sonny Rollins' recording of the Vincent Youmans' song. Was it on the album The Bridge? I’ll have to check but Jeff demonstrated by his extended solo that he knew his way around a saxophone. 

For a ballad feature Jeff did the Johnny Green number Body and Soul which was the second time I’d heard it that day as I’d heard the Joe Farnsworth Quartet play it live from Smalls NYC at 1am which featured Reuben Fox on tenor who is from London. This was a long half hour version but Jeff’s version, although shorter, was just as impressive.  

During the second set Jeff played Nardis which you don’t hear many bands play but Jeff, Paul, Ken, and Eryl did a fine job on this tricky tune. It surprised me that the audience was smaller than expected even for a Tuesday night but those who stayed away missed a great night of hard swinging modern jazz.   

The next jazz night at the Railway is on Sunday March 3 with guitarist Derrick Harris’s Quartet. Mike Farmer

Without a Song; I'll Remember April; Body and Soul; The Turnaround; All the Things You Are; Nardis; Stella by Starlight; There Will Never be Another You.