Paul Edis on YouTube - March 20.

Paul Edis (solo piano).

(Review by Lance/Photo courtesy of Malcolm Sinclair).

Is the way to go for the foreseeable future? If so then, after this performance by Paul Edis, I for one won't be complaining. A solid sixty minutes of some of the best piano to have emerged from the northeast although actually streamed live from his flat in London where he has recently taken up residence.

If Paul sounded a bit hesitant with his announcements it was probably because he was also listening for the doorbell to herald the arrival of a plumber to repair the boiler - how is he going to wash his hands without hot water?

Nothing hesitant about the playing, our man was on top form with a varied selection that included several requests - one from former Jambone trumpet player James Metcalf who asked for Nardis which is pianist Ben Sidran's surname spelled backwards - Side played it well.

A particularly interesting choice was Waltz No. 2 by Shostakovitch. I'm unfamiliar with the piece but there were moments when it seemed to have the same melody as Down at the Old Bull and Bush. Did Shosta write that or was it an impish quote from Paul? I also noted a suggestion of La Donna È Mobile towards the finale.

Murmuration from the Triptych pad was followed by a very joyful Joyspring and Summertime with a veiled reference to an audience member. Bring me Sunshine was, as someone commented, all the right notes in all the right places! 

Brubeck's It's a Raggy Waltz did the composer  proud as did Vignette (and so it should as the composer was also the performer!)

Ellington's Solitude - appropriate number - concluded with a reference to this very site. I can't comment on the beer until later when I listen again as I'm obliged to get behind the wheel shortly.

All the Things You Are - Paul remarked that Lee Konitz plays it every day. I used to do that myself, the difference being that Konitz got it right the first time. Dr. Edis also got it right this afternoon. As Ann Alex remarked in a comment on the previous post - the Bachian interlude was very effective - almost Shearingesque.

Greensleeves and One Note Samba rounded off the show and the plumber still hadn't arrived.

To quote the opening number, Paul certainly managed to Make (more than) Someone Happy.

Lance.
Now, 2 hours later, 117 views and counting.
Link.