Graham Hardy & Paul Edis @ The Lit & Phil. Nov 25

Graham Hardy (trumpet & flugelhorn) & Paul Edis (piano)

(Review by Russell/Photo courtesy of Brian Ebbatson)

Another Friday lunchtime, another full house. Yes, jazz at the Lit and Phil goes from strength to strength. November’s concert presented Graham Hardy and Paul Edis in a programme of original compositions and standards. The first five of ten tunes were, in order, written by Edis, Edis, Hardy, Edis and Hardy, of which two received a premiere public performance.

Hardy opened on flugelhorn on Edis’ McCoin a Phrase and 63 Years. The former a nod to McCoy Tyner, the latter a commission to celebrate the eightieth birthdays of a couple who had notched up 63 years –and counting – together. Boot Tree Blues (take a walk in Heaton Park and you’ll chance upon the tune’s inspiration, a kind of DIY art installation) featured the composer G.Hardy playing trumpet.

Two world premieres back to back. Edis’ It’s Been, It’s Gone, It’s Happened (Hardy on plungered trumpet) and Hardy’s The Pounce written a matter of weeks ago, its subject a rescued cat and its predilection for pouncing on the unsuspecting! The second half of the set turned to the familiar: Monk, Calderazzo (Joey), Van Heusen, Bach and Piaf. Pianist Edis offered the thought that you either like Thelonius Monk or you don’t. This begs the question: Who is this person who doesn’t like Monk? No matter, the duo played Ba-Lue-Bolivar-Ba-Lues. Time waits for no one – the Lit and Phil’s clock indicated it was almost time to go. Edis shared a truncated Two Part Invention No.4 with Hardy taking the right hand, Edis the left, and, gone two o’clock, Piaf: La Vie En Rose.

The Lit and Phil’s final lunchtime jazz concert of the year is one week before Christmas. Why not introduce a friend to one of Newcastle’s hidden gems? A lunchtime date, Friday 16 December, to hear Zoë Gilby sing. The concert starts at 1:00pm. Arrive early to ensure you get a seat or risk standing at the back of the room. Book in advance, telephone  0191 232 0192, or pay on the door, £4.00. Highly recommended.     

Russell.