Paul Edis Trio w. Roly Veitch @ Bridge Hotel.

Paul Edis (pno); Mick Shoulder (bs); Adam Sinclair (dms); Roly Veitch (gtr).
(Review by Lance)

This latest Splinter gig was one of those delightful vignettes that somehow offered an alternative to the Up and At 'Em jazz that currently prevails in every style from New Orleans to On The Outside.

Bill Evans was one of those rare musicians - an ethereal aesthetic who, rather than ostentatious displays of technique, used that technique to suit the moment, the mood, the feeling. Paul Edis is from the same musical incubation as Bill Evans and, as such, the perfect choice to talk about and lead by example of the great man's career.

Paul quoted at length from Peter Pettinger's How My Heart Sings - a book that I too am currently reading - and, I must confess, made reference to several items that I had missed.

Waltz For Debbie - surely the greatest jazz waltz ever - Funkalero, Periscope, more delights but perhaps the best was saved for last - Turn Out The Stars. Solo piano, this was Edis, Bill Evans,.at his finest.

Second set opened with Roly Veitch donning the mantle of Jim Hall, with whom Bill Evans recorded several albums,  and the duo did full justice to I Hear a Rhapsody, Darn That Dream and an Evans' original the name of which I didn't catch..

This is the stuff that dreams are made of - Shakespeare hit it when he said "Music is the food of love" - and this was sheer romance between players and listeners.

However, once again the number 27 bus caused Coitus Interruptus  and I had to leave before the climax of the second set.

Check out Bill Evans, Jim Hall through the usual search engines and likewise Paul Edis and Roly Veitch. Special mentions also to Adam Sinclair who becomes more awesome with each hearing and Mick Shoulder who "merely" had to become Eddie Gomez/Scott La Faro. Mick did it well (drive home  carefully.)

And for those who missed it - I just hope you backed Italy!

Lance.