(Review by Russell)
A Jazzy Christmas played to enthusiastic full houses across the region during December culminating in an evening performance in front of another capacity audience in Sage Two. Project director Paul Edis arranged all of the material for an A-list ensemble which, it should be said, seemed to enjoy the occasion every bit as much as the festive (Santa hats were in evidence!) audience.
Winter Wonderland, All I Want for Christmas is You, Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree - the opening three numbers, just as they were on the other tour dates. Edis' regular bass and drums pals - Andy Champion and Russ Morgan - are at the top of their profession which is, no doubt, reassuring to a bandleader writing parts for the horns, a horn section featuring Matt Anderson on tenor and soprano saxophones. The presence of virtuoso violinist Emma Fisk and star vocalist Jo Harrop simply put an iced cherry on top of Edis' Jazzy Christmas cake.
Cambridge University student Megan Robinson played a wonderful piccolo solo on Carol of Bells alongside Edis' impressive arrangement for the horns and our bandleader followed up with a piano-vocal feature of his own, singing Merry Christmas on Christmas Day (composer P. Edis/lyrics K. Edis).
Edis likes Bill Evans and chose to open the second set with Santa Claus is Coming to Town for trio (Edis, piano, Champion, bass, Morgan, drums). The trio is a regular working unit and well worth catching in other settings, there is none better! A Jazzy Christmas wouldn't be complete without Jo Harrop. A voice to die for, Ms Harrop could sing the phone book, however, on this Sage Gateshead engagement she sang a book of seasonal numbers including Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow (Graham Hardy to the fore, Champion soloing like a Champion) and a Basie-like arrangement of Santa Baby - Edis suggesting we should think of it as Splanky Baby!
The depth of talent on show was quite something - Jo Harrop, Hardy (trumpet, flugelhorn), Jason Holcomb (trombone), Emma Fisk and Matt Anderson the established names, tomorrow's stars Megan Robinson (flute, piccolo), Faye Thompson (alto sax, clarinet) and the prodigious Francis Tulip (guitar) and, of course, MD Paul Edis, Andy Champion and Russ Morgan.
A Jazzy Christmas has become an annual treat, it's all but certain to happen again this time next year and, as Jo Harrop asked the question What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?, the majority of those in Sage Two were probably thinking: Let's book for next year!
Russell
Paul Edis (piano, vocals); Jo Harrop (vocals); Matt Anderson (tenor sax, soprano sax); Graham Hardy (trumpet, flugelhorn); Jason Holcomb (trombone); Emma Fisk (violin); Faye Thompson (alto sax, clarinet); Megan Robinson (flute, piccolo); Francis Tulip (guitar); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums)
2 comments :
What a great show it sounds Lance. Such talented musicians and of course the wonderful Paul Edis. Happy blogging in the year to come and best wishes from Myra and myself.
Well that was Russell's review but it was a great couple of sessions - I was at the afternoon one. Hope to see Myra and yourself in the new year
Post a Comment