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| © Roly Veitch |
Russ Morgan (drums); Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Mark Williams (guitar); Andy Champion (double bass) + Zoë Gilby (vocals)
A rare February gig at Blaydon Jazz Club and a rare band for the occasion, the Russ Morgan Quartet, no less. The Black Bull's regulars turned out and they weren't to be disappointed. And what they didn't know, there was to be a guest appearance by the award-winning Zoë Gilby. At a little after eight o'clock, Russ, Harry Keeble, Mark Williams and bassist Andy Champion took to the floor.
Across the course of two sets, drummer Russ spiced things up with a varied selection, including a couple of John Scofield numbers (step forward Mark Williams!), something by Julian Nicholas and Kenny Garrett, a Rodgers and Hart standard and Sammy Gallop and Phil De Rose's Autumn Serenade, the latter two featuring Ms Gilby.
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| © Russell |
Andy Champion brought in A Thousand Ships, Russ Morgan, first brushes, then sticks, then hands, masterful. Stranger to the Light vied for tune of the night - Scofield's composition the ideal vehicle for the virtuosi. Guitarist Williams conjured yet another beautifully crafted solo, Morgan working overtime on the ride, Keeble laying down a(nother) killer solo.
Bandleader Morgan likes a New Orleans shuffle and not for the first time this evening, we got it, this time on Marc Johnson's Union Pacific. The Russ Morgan Quartet is some band, that's for sure. Modern jazz? Contemporary jazz? Call it what you will, the next time Russ and the boys are out and about, go hear them. Russell
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