Greg Abate (alto sax); Ian Beestin (drums); Paul Gray (double bass); Neil Hunter (keys).
I last saw Greg at the Lescar, Sheffield on July 17 and at the end of the night I told him I would try and get to the final date of his UK tour which was in Belper, Derbyshire. A few days before this event I heard that Irene, the current owner of the Railway, Stockport, was putting on a second final night of jazz which featured Mike Hall’s Quartet on the same night.
It was 11:00am on the 28th and I still wasn’t sure which gig to go to, but after arriving at Stockport station and finding that I could get a train which actually stopped at Belper with one change at Nottingham I bought a ticket with an open return.
I reached Belper about 4pm and was immediately impressed with the fact that there were no stairs or lift just a long sloping entry and exit road. I found a room at the Lord Hotel which was the first hotel I came to and decided to stay for 2 nights. I found the venue which was at the top of a hilly road called King Street and, at about 6:00pm Greg and his trio arrived.
The lady selling tickets told me the trio was known as the Belper Jazz Company and they were certainly every bit as good as the Lescar trio. For those interested the keyboard involved was a full size Roland 200-800. Greg was delighted with the reception he got and fixed up a return booking for his next UK tour which will play at this venue on Nov 17.
Afternoon in Paris; Deep Sea Reality; Moose the Mooche; Well You Needn’t; Bebop; Recorda Me; Positive Energy;JAG (When Lights Are Low); 'Round Midnight;Yardbird Suite;On the Road; I Love You (encore)
1 comment :
Good for you,Mike.
I went with my Glossop friend (you know "Killer Joe") to the Railway.
It too was good night,although as you might expect tinged with a degree of sadness. The situation at the Railway doesn't look particularly promising.
Regards.
Dave
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