Paul Edis Trio with Mark Williams @ The Cherrytree - April 9.

Paul Edis (piano), Mark Williams (guitar), Mick Shoulder (bass) and Rob Walker (drums).

This gig should really have been headlined 'Straight from the Gateshead International Jazz Festival' as all of the four performers had been playing at the Sage over the weekend across at least three different bands. Nothing could illustrate more clearly the growing national reputation of our locally based musicians and here they were playing around the corner from my house. I could only make the second half so didn't try to keep a note of what the tunes were. Paul was unusually sparse with his announcements, which was fine, as no doubt he'd done enough of that over the weekend. There was a Jobim number and something by Peterson, I think, with added Bach, but basically they just played and I just listened and it was hugely enjoyable. Four fine musicians, enjoying themselves, it seemed to me, and playing beautifully. What could be better? Peter and the Cherrytree deserve great credit for creating a space (with great food, of course) in which these kind of gigs can happen.

JC.