Jazz treat at Victoria Hotel, Menai Bridge

Nov 12 2008

THE second of the autumn season’s highly popular jazz concerts at the Victoria Hotel, Menai Bridge, features the keyboards and sax-led Freddie Garner Quartet, which brings to the Vic a blend of musicians comprising both youth and experience.

The group plays a mix of jazz standards and originals, from swingers through Latin and ballads in the best traditions of the art form of jazz, specialising in the straight-ahead jazz of the post bop era and paying homage to the jazz greats who have influenced its members.

Bandleader Freddie Garner, who plays in the style of the great Kenny Barron, Victor Feldman and Oscar Peterson, has been a prominent member of the North West jazz scene for many years, playing with such fast company as Peter King, Vic Ash, John Barnes, Phil Lee and Israeli saxman Gilad Atzmon.

Saxophonist Ed Kainyek is a favourite player at jazz venues across the North West.

Ed’s influences include saxophonists Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter and Grover Washington, and also Oscar Peterson and Art Blakey.

The line-up of the Freddie Garner Quartet is completed by Dave Turner, one of the North Wales Jazz Society’s favourite bass players, who both underpins the rhythm section and provides ample solo dexterity, and Marek Dorcik (drums), a young Slovakian musician whose swinging, propulsive style is perfectly suited to the quartet’s engine room.

The concert, which takes place on Wednesday, November 19, starts at 8.30pm and for further information and all other North Wales Jazz Society events call (01745) 812260 or visit www.northwalesjazz.org.uk