Simon Bates Trio: Live at West Side Jazz

Back at West Side Jazz, The Simon Bates Trio produced great classic organ jazz, with tunes by Stanley Turrentine, Sammy Cahn, Hank Mobley and Lou Donaldson.

The Simon Bates Trio @rw_crowley

Sax player Simon Bates had selected a set list that took us through some of the less obvious jazz standards, including a final tune that I had never heard before: Funk Inc’s Smokin’ at Tiffany’s.

The tunes played to the strengths of the whole trio, with Pete Whittaker (organ) and Dave Tandy (drums) producing some lovely improvisation in a truly democratic trio. Some of the most interesting sections were the swapping of eight or four bar solos that saw phrases moving between the three of them.

King of the Hammond Organ Jimmy Smith provided tunes Back at the Chicken Shack and Blues for Jay, while tenor sax supremo Stanley Turrentine was channeled by Simon with Minor Chant and his version of Sammy Cahn’s Teach Me Tonight.

Simon Bates on soprano @rw_crowley

Although mainly performing on tenor, Simon showed his prowess on the soprano sax for Lou Donaldson's Blues Walk.

As well as solo sections, the trio excelled on starts and finishes of tunes, with a variety of structures delivered with excellence. The cinema setting of West Side Jazz shouldn’t work but, yet again, the sound and the jazz were perfect for a warm summer’s evening.

Next up at West Side Jazz is Jo Harrop on 2 September

Dave Tandy @rw_crowley

Pete Whittaker @rw_crowley