Paul Edis (piano & clarinet), Paul Susans (double
bass) & Rob Walker (drums)
(Review by Russell)
Triptych are: left panel Paul Edis, centre panel Paul
Susans, right panel Rob Walker. The canvases prepared by Edis (composer of four
of the eight numbers performed), form kept in perspective by Susans,
watercolour fills applied by Walker. Classical English pastoral, broad-brush
swing time sections, beer-fuelled, early morning groove.
The Lit & Phil’s monthly Friday lunchtime sessions
continue to draw the crowds. Those in the know knew this was sure to be a good
one and it was. The audience listened in the knowledge that the performance was
being recorded. How High the Moon began
the one hour set. A jazz piano trio master class – as simple as that. Edis
composed Montage in a state of
anguish/delirium/despair during a mind-numbing
stint in the orchestra pit at one of the region’s many pantomimes (think of
the money, Paul!). Composed in the quest for creativity, it largely succeeded. Oh, yes it did! Edis’ Murmurations (ask an ornithologist)
threatened to lay claim to the tune of the afternoon; piano intro hinting at Misterioso, the bass line manfully kept
on the straight and narrow by the bar stool-perched Susans, Rob Walker’s
drumming razor-sharp in response to every subtle compositional shift.
Paul Susans’ Beer
For Breakfast hit a groove and kept right on. The Pilgrim Street Set’s
monthly residency at Hoochie Coochie (the Triptych boys are involved) could
appeal to those who got this one. Dark
Ages went back in time to …the Dark Ages. Edis switched to clarinet,
partially closing the triptych panels, slowly sketching a quasi, ancient Indian
tune (Walker’s hand drumming exemplary). Edis’ panto blues found him reading a
book about JS Bach. It proved to be the creative spur resulting in Cerebral. Cerebral? Perhaps. Great
playing, for sure. Bach must have been an outstanding improviser. Just imagine
if, one day, the man walked in to the Lit & Phil (or Jazz Café) asking to
sit in! As Triptych set about tackling the piece Susan’s peered at the score
and said (in jest): What do these things
here mean?
To close the afternoon’s entertainment Edis announced
Percy Grainger’s English Country Garden.
Previously played as a solo piano piece, this trio version worked well.
Township jazz, or suggestions of it, could be heard. Perhaps Edis could arrange
the tune for a sextet (horns) feature. Next month’s session features the Mo
Scott Trio. Ms Scott – Empress of the Blues – will be in the company of Paul
Edis and bassist Neil Harland. Expect jazz and blues. Expect it to be good,
very good. The date for your diary: Friday 19 June (1:00pm).
Russell.
1 comment :
Russell/Paul, correct me if I'm wrong but I've always thought Percy Grainger's adaptation was titled simply "Country Gardens". It was only when words were added and recordings made by Jimmie Rodgers, Rolf Harris and others that it became "In an English Country Garden". So, unless Paul was singing, perhaps the original title should have been retained.
Post a Comment