Paul Edis (piano) & Graham Hardy (trumpet &
flugelhorn)
(Review by Russell/Photo courtesy of Mike Tilley).
It was busy in town; an Indian summer’s day, the Toon
stung by the Hornets, university hopefuls by the thousand visiting our seats of
learning and staying over, South Tyneside rockers the Wildhearts packing out
the Academy. The ‘jazz institute’ on Pink Lane, the Jazz Café that is, offered
a free course in the art of jazz playing. Lecturers Paul Edis and Graham Hardy
were gratified to see their ‘students’ made the effort to be in attendance,
some taking notes!
This was, of course, another duo concert performance
at the Jazz Café. Pianist Paul Edis teamed up with dapper brass man Graham
Hardy (see photograph). Saturday evenings in the Caff are intimate affairs;
just the two of them and their audience. Brotherhood
of Man and Black and Tan Fantasy (Hardy
muted) opened the programme. A couple of originals followed – You Talkin’ to Me? (this one would have
come in useful later in the evening) and Boot
Tree Blues (referencing Heaton Park’s community arts creation). Pianist
Edis, as usual, got the best out of the house upright Hyundai and Hardy
reminded us why he is an in demand brass player, equally adept on flugelhorn as
trumpet.
Kenny Wheeler’s For
Jan, with a waltz-like feel, featured flugelhorn (the late Canadian’s
compositions have, of late, featured in set lists at several gigs). Audience
numbers grew, the garrulous prominent amongst them, as the first set culminated
with a brace of tunes – the first of which prompted the question ‘Who wrote
it?’ Edis’ sheet music said M. Davis whereas Hardy’s indicated W. Shorter. Your
reviewer sided with the latter. Late night post-gig research suggested the
latter, Wayne Shorter. Oh, the tune…ESP.
The musicianship of the highest order, the duo upped the ante on Parisian Thoroughfare. Superb playing,
worth the admission charge, had there been one.
Second set the place was heaving. A minor expletive
deleted spat between two patrons – a rare occurrence indeed – threatened to get
out of hand. Oh, for De Niro’s one-liner! In time honoured fashion, the band
played on. And how! Passion Dance
heard playing as if commanded by the Axeman of Jazz! The ‘You lookin’ at me?’
stand off at the bar a long-forgotten side show, an Edis/Hardy arrangement of My Funny Valentine took a new look at
the classic number – impressive! Edis at the Jazz Café wouldn’t be Edis without
Monk and trumpeter Hardy was more than happy to comply – flat cap in place of
pork pie (see photograph). JS Bach made it onto the set list; a two part
invention (no.4). Fantastic! In an instant we had a trio of improvisers – Edis,
Hardy and Bach. The Baroque in a bar on a Saturday night. To close, Edith Piaf.
La Vie en Rose. Huge applause. ‘You
lookin’ for jazz? You got it at the Jazz Café.
Earlier a short visit to the Vermont Hotel found the
place doing good business. A seven o’clock engagement with Ruth Lambert in the
company of Teessider Jeremy McMurray served as an aperitif. Some Where over the Rainbow as defined by
Ms Lambert. Perched on a bar stool, pianist McMurray the sensitive accompanist
at her side, Lambert’s love of the Gas Book evident. A mischievous hotel guest
asked: Do you know any Nirvana? Of course, replied Lambert, but not on this
occasion. An interval chat with the duo; rugger, football, cliff-hanging
houses, grand pianos and Dolly Parton. Lambert and McMurray had to get back to
work, the Jazz Café beckoned. Lover Man.
Class at the Vermont.
Russell
1 comment :
Great playing but I bet St James Park was quieter than cacophony raised by some of the drinkers at the back.
Post a Comment