Once
again Neil Yates brought together a great quintet of musicians to celebrate the
music of Cannonball Adderley at Llandudno Jazz Club where for the last few
years jazz music of the highest quality has been brought to a North Wales audience
every Monday evening. The star guest from Stafford was Chris Gumbley on alto
sax and he also provided arrangements for the band for this concert.
Huw Warren was brought in as a dep for Richard Harrold on keyboards. One could not think of anyone better given Huw’s international reputation. Chris commented it was the first time he'd had the privilege of playing with Huw.
The
first set opened with I’ll Remember April followed by One for Dario a
tune composed by Nat Adderley. Next up was Jeannine written by Duke
Pearson and first recorded by Donald Byrd in 1963. Tribute to Brownie provided
ample opportunities to show harmonies between alto sax and trumpet. Throughout the concert all musicians had solos to show their
virtuosity but for me this concert was about an ensemble playing together and
feeding off each other. As ever Eryl and Grant provided a solid rhythm section.
The
last two numbers of the first set were Jive Samba again composed by Nat
Adderley and Dis Here.
The
first tune in the second set was Sack O’Woe and Huw’s solo on this was a
highlight for me. This was followed by Del Sassa and an upbeat number with
Neil and Chris taking centre stage. I enjoyed the band’s instrumental version of
the Bobby Timmons tune Dat Dere. I have become accustomed in recent
times to hearing this tune with vocals by the very talented young vocalist
Emily Masser who features this tune regularly in her concerts and is a favourite
of mine on her current quintet’s album Songs with my Father. The concert
concluded with Sticks and the ever popular Mercy, Mercy, Mercy.
Trad
jazz next Monday 29 Sept at LLandudno Jazz Club and on 6 October modern jazz
returns with Neil confirming the star guest on that date being the great double
bass player Arnie Somogyi. At the end of the concert I was able to speak with
Huw Warren and congratulate him on one of his past students Joe Webb who is one
of the 12 nominees for the 2025 Mercury Music Prize. He pointed out that one of
the other nominees Emma-Jean Thackray, like Joe Webb, studied at the Royal
Welsh College of Music and Drama. Richard Morris
Set list: I’ll Remember April; One for
Dario; One for Daddy-O; Jeannine; Tribute to Brownie; Jive Samba; Dis Here; Sack O’Woe; Del
Sasser: Dat Dere; Sticks; Mercy, Mercy, Mercy
Llandudno
Jazz Club, Penrhyn Arms, Pendre Road, Penrhynside, Llandudno LL30 3BY
Mondays
@ 8pm. £10 cash entry pp, no booking required but recommended if dining.
1 comment :
Greta review. I'm yet to hear Chris Gumbley. Re 'Trad jazz' on Mon. 29, will it be a resident band or visiting guest musicians?
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