Dean Masser Quartet @ the Moor Club, Stockport - June 1

© Jeff Pritchard

Dean Masser (tenor sax); Andrzej Baranek (keyboards); Josh Cavanagh-Brierley (bass); Gaz Hughes (drums).

Straight ahead modern jazz played by an outstanding group of musicians is what people seem to like here in Stockport and this what Dean Masser and co. provided.

The tunes played were mainly standards alongside some familiar originals by the likes of Dexter Gordon, Benny Golson, and Johnny Griffin. Making his first appearance at the Moor Club was Josh Cavanagh-Brierley and he is another first class bassman worth making a note of. I saw him recently at Saisons with Richard Iles' trio and it was good to hear him again.

Gaz Hughes has become one of the hardest working drummers in the UK and during a pre-gig chat he mentioned how much he enjoyed playing in the north east, in venues like the Globe and sometimes doing an afternoon  performance  as well as one in the evening. I really must try and check out the jazz scene in the Newcastle area now that the railways seem to be improving somewhat.

Andrzej Baranek was in fine form tonight and his solos reached a high creative level. On most of the numbers played tonight Dean was in a high energy mode but he slowed things down for the closing tune of the first set, a sensitive rendition of Easy Living. I've loved this tune ever since I heard Wardell Gray's version on a double memorial album.  After a short interval four more tunes followed including a feature for Gaz on the closing Griffin number The Jamfs Are Coming. 

The next Sunday Jazz at the Moor Club session is on June 8 and features Rod Mason/Ben Crossland/Dean Stockdale/Dave Tyas. Mike Farmer

              

It's Almost like Being in Love; Cheesecake; Whisper Not; Tenor Madness; Easy Living; I Told Every Little Star; Come Rain or Come Shine; There Will Never be Another You; The Jamfs Are Coming.