Jeff Guntren (tenor sax);
Kerry Williams (alto sax); Neil
Yates (trumpet}; Johnny Hunter (drums); Richard Harrold
(keyboards); Grant Russell (double bass)
A truly international jazz evening in Llandudno, North Wales on November 17. A sextet led by two saxophonists born in the US. Kerry Williams on alto sax currently based in London but originally from Oregon and bringing with him from Oregon friends and family and Jeff Guntren on tenor sax now based in the Manchester area but originally from Iowa. These two very talented musicians first met at university in New Jersey 25 years ago. Rarely has Llandudno Jazz Club been blessed by six musicians in this small intimate pub.
The concert
kicked off with Doodlin' a Horace Silver number featuring the two
saxophonists. Save for Kerry I had seen all the other musicians play on
multiple occasions. Kerry did not disappoint and had frequent solos throughout
the concert and a powerful brass section of three players was a real joy. A
splendid version of Recorda Me a tune Joe Henderson composed
at the age of 15.
Next up was the
Dizzy Gillespie jazz standard A Night in Tunisia which included a
brilliant solo by Neil who is one of the top UK jazz trumpet players. This was
followed by Bohemia After Dark a tune by the American double bassist and
composer Oscar Pettiford and made famous by Cannonball Adderley. Johnny’s
drumming was a particular feature of this tune and I always enjoy hearing him.
He is a drummer that can adapt to many genres. One of the very top UK drummers.
After a break, the second set opened with the Irving Berlin song Remember followed by Freddie Hubbard's Little Sunflower which
included a beautifully sensitive section with just keyboards and double
bass. Richard and Grant are established
regulars on the north west circuit of jazz clubs and beyond and are in high
demand. Next Chicken An' Dumplings by Ray Bryant and played by Art
Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and Stop Time by Horace Silver. The mood
changed with an exquisite rendition of Moonlight
in Vermont. The concert ended with an extended version of Sing a Song of
Song a tune by funky sax player Kenny Garrett.
A concert, not
including the break, of about two and a half hours enjoyed as much by a good
audience as the musicians. Come on down to LLandudno on Monday evenings. Richard Morris
Set list Doodlin'; A Night in Tunisia; Recorda Me; Bohemia After
dark; Remember; Little Sunflower; Chicken An' Dumplings; Stop Time; Moonlight In
Vermont; Sing a Song of Song
Llandudno Jazz
Club, Penrhyn Arms, Pendre Road, Penrhynside, Llandudno LL30 3BY
Mondays @ 8pm. £10 cash entry pp, no booking required but recommended if dining.
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