Paul Edis (piano & clarinet), Paul Susans
(double bass) & Rob Walker (drums/percussion)
(Review by
Russell/Photos by Jerry).
Three jazz gigs at the Lit &
Phil this week – Wednesday evening, Thursday evening and today’s lunch hour set
– perhaps accounted for a relatively low turn-out to hear Triptych. The trio of
Paul Edis (piano), Paul Susans (double bass) and drummer Rob Walker have, in a
short space of time, got something going with this new line-up. The set list
combined standards, traditional songs and contemporary composition. The trick
is in the approach and the arrangements of once familiar tunes.
How High the Moon, familiar enough, began the one hour performance
in relaxed style, the playing top notch. Middle England
would, no doubt, rejoice at the prospect of Greensleeves
and English Country Garden,
at least until Triptych did their thing. Pianist Paul Edis gave these tunes a
new twist; Bach-like, swinging sections, drummer Rob Walker seeking to sneak in
a drum ‘n’ bass vibe, bassist Paul Susans suitably amused at the devilment of
it all. Alice
in One D Land (Edis claimed artistic licence!) and the classic
Bacharach/David number Close to You
featured superb playing by all three musicians. Edis’ Dark Ages rung the changes. Our premier pianist picked up his
clarinet, Walker
introduced the audience to his udu (a vessel with a hole in it, usually made of
clay), unusual in itself, this particular African instrument was tuned to B♭ (all the more unusual, apparently). The tune initially
suggested a North African feel before moving into something to be heard in
Eastern musics (Zakir Hussain and Trilok Gurtu would have got it). With
clarinet having set the mood, Edis returned to the keyboard to further develop
the piece. Unusual, one to be heard again.
Walker’s
Mister Blister preceded Gavin Bryars’
challenging composition Jesus Blood and
it was down to Walker’s
fun arrangement of Honeysuckle Rose to
close the concert in style. Fats’ stride classic went swing time, then drum ‘n’
bass, then this way, then that. Sight reading the twists and turns they got it
right or so it seemed! Much applause, deservedly so.
Russell.
Paul Edis (piano & clarinet), Paul Susans
(double bass) & Rob Walker (drums/percussion)
How High the Moon, familiar enough, began the one hour performance
in relaxed style, the playing top notch. Middle 
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