PERFECT FOR 10. Paul Edis/Vasilis Xenopoulos Quartet @ Hampstead Jazz Club – Dec. 12.

Paul Edis (piano); Vasilis Xenopoulos (tenor sax); Adam King (bass); Matt Home (drums).

Three for two and one for four – not a variant on Tea for Two, just the seating arrangements at HJC for this estimable gig featuring A LIVE AUDIENCE! Only ten of ‘em, admittedly, but they made lots of noise and visibly gave pleasure to the four musicians, Covid-starved of the reaction which is such a vital part of any live music. Wish I could have been there! Being a live-streamer was a bit like eavesdropping through the door of Newcastle’s Side Café back in the day, envying the small but select band of listeners who had managed to squeeze in! I could quote numerous comments posted live by the online audience as evidence of their enjoyment but this single, eloquent one will suffice: “Yeaaaaa!”

All but the bassist got to solo on the catchy opening number, the Edis original, Whiskers. Did Vas quote If I Were a Rich Man in his solo, or did I imagine it? Adam King, on bass, got his chance to introduce himself on the Dexter Gordon swinger, Hanky Panky, with the first of several fine solos during the all-too-short set.

A second Edis original, Snakes and Ladders – the title track of his latest album – brought a quieter, gentler mood with some vibrato sax and its “up and down” melodies (the composer’s words, not mine). I think it’s more up than down: more ladders than snakes, as it always strikes me as a distinctly happy tune. Cue for some lyrics, maybe? The next tune, Joao Gilberto’s El Pato (the Duck!) does have lyrics which I’d love to hear – especially the version with actual quacking involved! All Latin, exotic rhythms from Matt Home’s infectious drum intro to the perfectly timed snap ending. Great!

Vas, during lockdown(s), had to choose between practising or watching Netflix! But he scribbled the odd tune too – and one of them (if I heard it right) was For Heaven’s Sake. Nothing odd about this smoky, atmospheric ballad which took me straight back to the 50’s and moody black and white film scores. By way of contrast, Horace Silver’s Opus de Funk was the up-tempo final number (aka the “pre-encore”!) which Paul Edis promised us would be “a lot of fun”. It certainly was, despite the camera freezing in mid-tune! This glitch was the only one of the night and if you have watched many live-streams this weird year, you’ll know how technically difficult they can be, so congrats and much thanks to Matt (?) who did all the video and sound for HJC and allowed all us absent friends to join in the fun.

And then it was Just in Time (and, sadly, just out of time). Oh for a second set……!

Bebop readers, please note: at the time of writing (Sunday 11.30am) the live stream still works, so if you missed it, you know what to do!

Link

Jerry