Paul Edis Trio @ The Jazz Café. May 9

Paul Edis (piano), Mick Shoulder (double bass) & Adam Sinclair (drums)

(Review by Russell.)

Newcastle’s Jazz Café on Pink Lane continues to present the best in jazz and the monthly treat that is the resident Paul Edis Trio produced another five star performance. Regulars settled down for the treat, garrulous transients a peripheral distraction.

Pianist Edis fought a good natured fight with the ailing upright (an off key miscreant in need of attention) winning by a distance. You Stepped Out of a Dream, East of the Sun, two top tunes to start the night. Milestones and Freddie Freeloader fulfilled the essential Miles quotient, bassist Mick Shoulder prominent on FF. Jobim's Corcovado battled against a noisy backdrop, drummer Adam Sinclair’s brushwork not going unnoticed. A familiar tune to those unfamiliar with the music – Alfie’s Theme – quelled the crowd, a good end to the first set. 

The room-temperature bottled beer – Fursty Ferret – went down well, a young couple shared a bottle of wine. Second set, another great tune - Mr Hipster - from the pen of Edis (the new Paul Edis Sextet CD - Mr Hipster - will be released in the not too distant future). I Thought About You (is there a better tune?), then Funkallero (Shoulder soloing, Sinclair engaged in fours, twos, smiles). A ballad was called for - Blame It On My Youth, things were going well. Ravelations from the Edis sextet’s There Will Be Time CD owed something to Ravel, Donald Brown’s Being With You featured Edis in stride mode and to conclude matters a charging Cherokee. It is hard to believe that the best piano trio out there is resident at the Jazz Café, 25-27 Pink Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne. To reserve your table, telephone 0191 222 9882.   

Russell.