Paul Edis Trio @ The Jazz Café. October 10

Paul Edis (piano), Andy Champion (double bass) & Adam Sinclair (drums)

(Review by Russell).

On Pink Lane we heard On Green Dolphin Street, Like Some One in Love, Blue Bossa, Bluesette and more. Paul Edis’ Jazz Café residency is a rare treat. October’s treat drew the regulars and a few new faces. Bassist Mick Shoulder couldn’t make the gig due to a Marsden Jazz Festival booking for the all-conquering Djangologie. No matter, we had a half-decent dep at the Jazz Café – the one and only Andy Champion!

Edis goes from strength to strength; playing at the top of his game, dazzling two-handed improvisations, standards lovingly embraced. Champion stepped in, stepped forward and played killer solos in between working as a bass and drums super team with the one and only Adam Sinclair. Is there a better drummer on the scene? – no, end of.

Edis declared Everything Happens to Me and for good measure added a Bach-like fugue as a coda. A mischievous reference to Brooks Newmark introduced Secret Love. One of the all-time great tunes, your reviewer dismissed any thoughts of the discredited Tory as the trio held a torch for the truly great Ms Doris Day!

Swing, bop and post-bop numbers peppered the second set. A typically sensitive reading of Bewitched beguiled an acquaintance. Joy Spring (horn parts sung in the head), What So paid homage to you know who and what, Moment’s Notice (heard but two weeks earlier in the same room when Alex Baker was in town),  Autumn Left (the Edis wit!) and a  scorching Cherokee set the place alight. Calls for an encore sparked an impromptu Jazz Café Blues. Open diary, November 7, write Paul Edis Trio, Jazz Café, book baby sitter, switch-off television, take bus or metro into town, enjoy.                 

Russell.