Simon Spillett (tenor sax); Paul Edis
(piano)
Another full house at the Gala
Theatre, little surprise given the quality musicians on the stand. Paul Edis,
promoter of the monthly Friday lunchtime concert series, invited Simon Spillett
to travel north to play a duo set, the first of two performances today for the
tenor saxophonist who has an evening engagement with Edis' trio at Ushaw
College.
The tenor sax-piano gig kicked-off
with Kurt Weill's Speak Low. Spillett is the sort of tenor player
who takes a good look at a tune, playing with unrivalled authority and his
musical partner on this Durham session can be said to do much the same from the
piano stool. A big sound, executing ideas with astonishing dexterity, the
sartorially elegant Spillett acknowledged the round of applause which greeted
his opening solo.
Pianist Edis matched our visitor solo
for solo, the two men clearly comfortable in one another's company. Alone
Together (Spillett said it seemed appropriate to play it as a duo)
then a cut from his first album - Spring Can Really Hang You Up the
Most - held the audience spellbound. Spillett generously, and rightly,
said of Paul Edis: Paul is a fabulous jazz piano player, you shouldn't take
him for granted, he's a great player. Well, said, sir!
A Weaver of Dreams - ah, yes! One of
the great tunes, certainly for a tenor player, a magical moment. Spillett
introduced Leroy Anderson's I Never Know When to Say When saying
the number was a gem of a ballad from the otherwise unsuccessful 1958 Broadway
show Goldilocks. No doubt Mr Anderson would have been tickled pink
to hear Spillett and Edis play his tune all of sixty years on.
The one hour Gala Theatre performance
flew by and our duo went out on a sparkling Oleo. At the time of
writing there is still time to make your way to Ushaw College for this
evening's concert featuring Simon Spillett (tenor sax) with the Paul Edis Trio:
Edis (piano), Andy Champion (bass) and the fabulous Abbie Finn (drums). 7:30pm
start, £8, pay on the door. Sat Nav users should use the DH7 7DW postcode.
1 comment :
I must say this was something special, fantastic playing from both and Tenor playing very much in the Tubby Hayes mould which was great to hear.
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