Paul Edis Trio @ The Jazz Café. December 5

Paul Edis (piano), Mick Shoulder (double bass) & Adam Sinclair (drums) + Ruth Lambert (vocals)

(Review by Russell)

Friday night down at the Village Vanguard, NYC. The resident Paul Edis Trio is the only show in town. Soon to sign to Blue Note, a coast to coast tour scheduled, a Down Beat front cover confirmed…

Meanwhile, in the real world, Paul Edis plays the Jazz Café, Pink Lane, Newcastle. Party City in the first week of December is in full swing (Christmas has come early) and those out to party are oblivious to the world class jazz happening within earshot of their full on street revelry. Yesterdays, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, a sizzling samba Stompin’ at the Savoy, the piano playing out of this world. Then the serious stuff – Jordu. New York or Newcastle? Get Down Beat on the phone. Hey, you guys, listen to this! And there was more – Nostalgia in Times Square (stupendous piano playing). Oleo, there isn’t a better gig.

The interval. The Consett Brewery’s White Hot set things up nicely for the second set. A request (for BJ); My Funny Valentine. The ‘idiosyncratic’ Caff piano fought long, fought hard, but Edis tamed it. No such struggles for bassist Mick Shoulder and Adam Sinclair (drums). The best in the business working with the best piano player in the business. The Jazz Café could sell advance tickets for the trio’s monthly engagement. Down the years a number of residencies acquired legendary status with full houses being the norm; Last Exit at the Gosforth Hotel, the Newcastle Big Band at the then University Theatre to name but two. Falling in Love with Love, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, as if it could get any better, up steps Ruth Lambert – Santa Baby herself! Bluesy it was. Let it Snow, Rudolph and a Monkish Christmas finale.

For as long as it lasts, the Paul Edis Trio residency at the Jazz Café is the gig.           

Russell