Johnny Deps in Crook - Paul Edis Sextet at St. Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook, Friday 7, June 2013.

Paul Edis (Piano), Mick Shoulder (Bass), Adam Sinclair (Drums), Graeme Wilson (Tenor Sax), Chris Hibbard (Trombone) and Johnny Dunn (Trumpet and Flugelhorn).

(Review and photo by Jerry.)

7.30 p.m., summer sun (about time) streams through the high window, nibbles are on the tables, bottled ales are flowing and a chattering Crook crowd thinks they are in for a great evening. Adam’s drums rip into Administrate This, the chattering stops and the crowd know they are in for a great evening! Bring one of the region’s best bands to one of the region’s most welcoming venues and how can you fail?

This opener was better than a punch in the face which, with capitals, was also the second number of the evening – robustly “Prescottian” brass and the first of several well-received bass solos!

This mix set the pattern for the evening: originals from the group’s first CD (There Will Be Time) interspersed with originals destined to feature on the second CD “later this year” (that’s the timing, not the title), and with a couple of standards for good measure. Thus the set-list continued: Black Orpheus, Echoes/Ravelations, Missing You (Aaaaaah!), and the stonking The Timothy’s which had its first airing at the Sage earlier in the year and which is already a firm favourite of mine.

The audience lapped it up. No-one actually dropped a pin during Missing You, but if they had, it would not have gone unnoticed! Meanwhile, on the rowdier numbers, the open-beamed roof was metaphorically raised!

The interval followed, with more reasonably priced ale and generous FREE slabs of pizza (how DO they do all that for a £5 admission???). Oh, yes, there was a raffle too, and much more animated chattering before the “Star Trek” chords of Out of Nowhere took us (boldly?) into a second set which, amazingly, out-topped the first!

Re-vamp featured great sax from Graham; Chris was to the forefront again on Being with You – a tune which had the musicians smiling as much as the audience. Bowed bass from Mick ushered in the atmospheric harmonies of Eastern, then we got our breath back with the slow ballad, Elegy, before cantering to the finish line (Editor’s note: too many metaphors).

On the closing two numbers, Blues for Dad and Angular, Adam cut loose again as he had done at the end of the first set and there were solos from everyone else prompting more foot-tapping, roof-raising and general happy raucousness! Thank you Crook: thank you, Paul and the boys. A great gig!

There are more gigs booked right through to the end of the year at this new and thriving venue: get there if you can!

And finally: apologies for the “headline” – I could not resist – and a special mention (he got several on the night) for Johnny Dunn who did admirably depping in the front-line at relatively short notice.

Jerry.