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| (© Jeff Pritchard) |
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Mike Hall bring an alto sax to a gig. However, after using it on the first two numbers he decided to play the remainder of the evening on tenor which, as he told the audience, was his preferred horn. Mike had picked an interesting selection of tunes, eleven in total, including two by Bob Mintzer and one each by Benny Golson, Randy Weston, Bob Berg and Clifford Brown plus a few standards to complete the programme.
His choice of rhythm section could not have been better and it's always a joy to hear the house piano being put to good use by Richard Wetherall who was given great support by the bass and drums team of Harrison and Walsh throughout the evening.
One of the numbers which I thought sounded familiar was Midnight Voyage and after checking my notes I see that this tune was played here recently on March 10 by Munch Manship when he was joined by Steve Childs for a two tenor workout. This number is sure to become one much played standard in the future.
Another tune that worked well was Lover Man which is normally done as a ballad but this time they gave it an uptempo treatment. Ed Harrison was featured on the Randy Weston tune Little Niles and his solid basswork was a major part of how good this quartet sounded. Dave Walsh has a powerful drumming style and I thought he was ideally suited to Mike’s group.
The next jazz night at the Railway is April 2 with the Ed Kainyek Quartet. Mike Farmer
Joy Spring; Little Niles; Lover Man; Midnight Voyage; Spring Can Really Hang You up the Most; How Deep is the Ocean?; Papa Lips; Killer Joe; Church Song; Friday Night at the Cadillac Club; I Hear a Rhapsody.
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