Paul Edis Sextet @ Gala Theatre, Durham, Mr Hipster tour, October 13

Paul Edis (piano), Graham Hardy (trumpet & flugelhorn), Graeme Wilson (tenor & baritone saxophones), Kieran Parnaby (trombone), Mick Shoulder (double bass) & Adam Sinclair (drums).

(Review by JC).

As BSH has already reviewed the Sextet's Mr Hipster CD and the album launch at Sage Gateshead, there is not an awful lot left to say except that everything Lance and Russell have said is true. What a great band, playing great compositions!

Durham is Paul Edis's home town so when the album review says that the opening number The Timothys has a township groove, this township is Durham. The band leader was in chatty form and opened his remarks by explaining that this concert was part of the Mr Hipster tour and naturally enough asked how many hipsters were in the hall. Of course, the jazz fans of Durham are far too hip to respond to that kind of question and I would have thought that less than half the audience put up their hands.

The sextet played most, if not all, of the tracks from the album and what comes across is the complexity and diversity of the musical inspirations for the pieces and the structure and coherence of the musical composition. The musical fun of Mr. Hipster, the exotic feel of Eastern, the Spanish tinge to Knight Errant; all are played with solos of consummate precision and a terrific ensemble sound. The track based on a twitter interaction with John Prescott (can he really have 100,000 twitter followers as PE suggested? who could they be?) Better than a Punch in the Face is counter pointed by the Mingus inspired Ah Um who Edis said might wade in the audience and punch someone who was talking too loud - better no talking than a punch in the face, maybe? Then there was Serial for Breakfast inspired by Arnold Schoenberg during which a moth appeared fluttering over the stage, presumably the spirit of Schoenberg checking out on how the band was doing. After about 30 seconds it flew off, no doubt more than satisfied. Dorian Grey was a cautionary tale about an ageing hipster and the sextet also played a tune from the first album for Mr. Edis senior, Blues for Dad, although surely it should have been Blues for Daddio in this context.

Throughout, the playing of Paul Edis was exemplary, particularly on the romantic Missing You and a touch of stride on Ah Um. He also played an exceptional solo piece, The Skye Boat Song, which was a nod towards the political excitement of the Scottish referendum.

As has been said, the sextet is full of great musicians and the solos from all of them were top drawer. At the end it was announced that the trombone player, Kieran Parnaby, was deputising at short notice and I have to say he did a great job. The setting of the Gala Theatre was very good with the band filling the stage and while some recent jazz gigs have featured multiple videos and all kinds of technological gizmos the Gala outdid them all with the most dry ice I've seen outside of a Tynemouth sea fret.

The sextet is on again in Hexham tonight (Saturday October 18). Not to be missed!

JC.
ps: The album is terrific!