Paul Edis Sextet @ Blaydon Jazz Club. September 15

Paul Edis (keyboards), Graham Hardy (trumpet & flugelhorn), Graeme Wilson (tenor saxophone & flute), Chris Hibbard (trombone), Mick Shoulder (double bass) & Adam Sinclair (drums)

(Review by Russell.)

Great North Run day, gusting winds, nights drawing in. Blaydon Jazz Club at the Black Bull would welcome competitors (stragglers), spectators, anyone making their way home. In the event it was the usual suspects, the faithful few who turned out to hear the Paul Edis Sextet.

Established favourites and some newer material entertained the attentive crowd. Better Than a Punch in the Face, Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise and a first airing for Knight Errant reminded the listener of just how good this line-up is. The latter number featured Graeme Wilson on flute and as bandleader Edis remarked: That was something different! Ah Um, a homage to Charles Mingus, heard telling contributions from the immaculate Chris Hibbard (trombone), Edis and bassist Mick Shoulder. An oh, so slow reading of Body and Soul worked well (don’t try this at home – only experienced musicians should handle such sensitive material). A recent Edis composition – Serial Breakfast - owed something to Schoenberg’s twelve tone technique (so said Maestro Edis).During the second set the presence of an upright vacuum cleaner to the side of the stage suddenly became apparent. Such was the rapt attention of your reviewer that this everyday jazz gig paraphernalia had gone unnoticed. Graeme Wilson’s arrangement of Autumn in New York (Autumn in Blaydon, said Edis) heard Graham Hardy’s fine flugel work and another sensitive solo from Hibbard. Edis’ arrangement of Out of Nowhere first encapsulated the band within a band – the swinging piano trio; Edis, Shoulder and the brilliant Adam Sinclair (drums) – then a further Hibbard solo and the sextet. Excellent playing. Vignette for Jean-Marie and Josette, premiered by Edis at Sage Gateshead with youth ensemble Jambone, highlighted his first rate skills as composer and arranger. The Timothys, with its African themes – solos from Hardy, Hibbard and Edis – concluded a first class session.    

Russell.