Paul Edis (piano/vocal)
Lockdown number 5 saw our man once again in good form with a choice selection of tunes. Great standards, jazz classics, a couple of originals, and a few vocals to boot.
September in the Rain (vocal) and Cole Porter's I Love You got the show off to a good start. Monk's Mood brought to mind bassist Ray Brown's observation that he loved Monk's tunes played by Hank Jones. If he'd still been with us, Brown could have added "...and by Paul Edis".
Honeysuckle Rose was different - enjoyably different I hasten to add. At one point it was as if Fats Waller was playing the left hand and Bud Powell the right hand. A killer combination!
Up Jumped Spring, Freddie Hubbard's jazz waltz is arguably the best of the 3/4 ventures into the idiom and Paul did nothing to dispel that notion.
A couple of originals: Muddle Through (was ever a title more apt?) and Madeira reminded us that composer is just one of the many strings to the Edis bow and, for all we know, he may even also play the violin!
McCoy Tyner's You Taught my Heart to Sing is a beautiful number and Paul concurred. Given the title, are there any lyrics to it?
It's Only a Paper Moon was requested by one of our roving reporters and was cue for another vocal. Paul's comping behind singers is the tops.
Take Five. A tribute to Dave B. Pleased that Paul acknowledged the man's greatness as so many didn't. Brubeck committed the sin of making money out of jazz and not spending it on certain substances proving that clean living doesn't deter you from being a great improviser.
Monk's Ask Me Now was asked for by me and I was delighted for it to be included. At the end of the programme Paul mooted the idea that he was thinking of doing a couple of streams with one dedicated to Monk and one to Bill Evans - thumbs up here on East (52nd) St.!
To finish off we had a vocal on I Could Have Danced All Night - we held our breath - is he going to make that high note? We breathed a sigh of relief before the show closed with On Green Dolphin Street.
Tune in again next week, same time, same station as the guys (never gals) on the old radio shows used to say.
Lance
2 comments :
You missed a great "Someone to Watch Over Me" at the end.
Great show again - and I'd agree about the tempting prospect of either Monk or Bill Evans for a future show!
Cheers from Saigon!
JERRY
No I didn't miss it Jerry - I agree it was beautiful. Unfortunately, I forgot to turn the page of my notes!
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