Tomorrow Night - a reminder from JNE

Jazz North East presents

GREG ABATE with the PAUL EDIS TRIO

Greg Abate (saxes); Paul Edis (piano); Mick Shoulder (bass); Adam Sinclair (drums)

Wednesday 6^th November | 8.00pm

Literary & Philosophical Society | 23 Westgate Road | Newcastle NE1 1SE

Tickets £10.00 | £8.00 concessions from 0191 232 0192

Contrary to the impression that 'Jazz Alert' may have occasionally given, I love bebop. But I've tried not to let my musical tastes to atrophy around 1960, and I'm not enthusiastic about slavish recreations of the style from which so much exciting music has subsequently evolved.

But "slavish recreation" is not a charge that could be levelled at American saxophonist Greg Abate, who on his two previous visits to Tyneside has delivered what the Penguin Guide to Jazz calls "top-notch bebop played with enthusiasm and without waste". His understanding of the musical language is profound and passionate, but he uses that language to spin entirely original jazz narratives without any of the self conscious retro trappings that you get with some other contemporary bop adherents. This is excellent music, excellently played, and really what more could you ask?

Travelling soloists like Abate are rather at the mercy of local support, and over the years I've heard some horror stories about wooden rhythm sections acting more as a drag than as an inspiration. But the Paul Edis Trio backed Greg at his first Tyneside gig, and he subsequently told his agent that it was the best group he'd worked with anywhere in the UK. It's a superb musical marriage - I urge you not to miss it.   

Paul Bream.