International Jazz Day @ the Globe: Duke Junction - April 30

© Sylvia T

Nadim Teimoori (tenor saxophone);  Jeff Hewer (guitar);  Martin Longhawn (Organ);   Steve Hanley (drums) + Richard Hall (guest tenor saxophone on two numbers).

There were several reasons to celebrate at the Globe on  April 30. The first was that it was International Jazz Day. The second reason was that it was the Globe’s 12th birthday as a community run music venue and the third was that Duke Junction were appearing.  Little wonder then that by 7.30pm the house was filling up  and tables and chairs were being brought in to fill any vacant corner.

© Russell

Duke Junction bill themselves as being inspired by, amongst others, Art Pepper, Thelonious Monk, and Duke Ellington (from where they took their name), and although  there was only one Ellington number in the set, it was the beautiful Prelude to a Kiss with a lovely guitar intro by Mr Hewer.  However,  there were a couple by Billy Strayhorn, Ellington’s long time collaborator. The others included tunes by Jack McDuff, Booker Little, and Grant Green who’s Jean de Fleur Mr Hanley took round the block and back again! There was also an intriguing original entitled  Anemonia by Nadim Teimoori which, apparently means nostalgia for things that never existed.

From the opening bars of Sanctified Samba to the closing drum solo on the aforementioned Jean de Fleur the audience was kept in no doubt that we were in the presence of four consummate musicians at the top of their game and out to enjoy themselves. And to cap it all, Richard Hall, friend of the band and well respected Doncaster Jazz Association stalwart, joined the band to play tenor saxophone on two numbers, trading phrases with Mr Teimoori on Jack McDuff’s Do it Now and later on Booker Little’s Rounder’s Mood. Brilliant!

In no particular order, we heard Jack McDuff's Sanctified Samba and Do it Now; Billy Strayhorn’s Upper Manhattan Medical Group and Rain Check;  Duke Ellington's Prelude to a Kiss;  Grant Green’s Jean de Fleur; Booker Little’s  Rounder’s Mood;  and Anemonia by Nadim Teimoori. 

© Russell

Earlier, several of the regulars from the Globe's Wednesday night Take it to the Bridge sessions had a spirited and enthusiastic jam setting the mood for what was to follow. Sylvia T