Paul Edis (piano); Jo Harrop (vocals); Matt Anderson (tenor sax, soprano sax); Faye Thompson (alto sax, clarinet); Sue Ferris (flutes, piccolo); Graham Hardy (trumpet, flugelhorn); Jason Holcomb (trombone); Emma Fisk (violin); Andy Champion (double bass), Matt MacKellar (drums)
The fourth of five north east of England tour dates of Paul Edis' A Jazzy Christmas attracted a capacity audience on High Street West. The Fire Station glowed, inside and out. There's nothing like a full house: the auditorium's spacious foyer bar, the adjoining Engine Room bar, both doing a roaring festive trade, one or two of the all-star band happily socialising minutes before curtain up.
Santa Baby opened the show with Graham Hardy sounding very much like Harry Edison! Throughout the evening Faye 'Santa Hat' Thompson alternated between alto sax and clarinet, Matt Anderson made some excellent tenor and soprano sax contributions, the aforementioned G. Hardy picked up his flugelhorn on Joni Mitchell's River, with self-confessed Xmas nut, Jason Holcomb, blowing top notch trombone throughout. And then there was Sue Ferris. Known for her command of the tenor and baritone saxophones, this evening SF played flute and piccolo* to great effect.
Maria Carey's All I Want for Christmas is You was given a (thankfully) restrained workout by the award-winning Jo Harrop. Step into Christmas (E. John & B. Taupin) saw the band donning loud, gaudy, Elton-esque specs, bandleader Edis the worst offender, sporting a multi-coloured flashing pair! Speaking of offenders...P. Edis once again inflicted upon his audience a series of terrible party-time jokes. Oh, yes he did!
And what of the rhythm section? Maestro Edis (on occasion playing stride piano), double bass master Andy Champion, and, home for Christmas from Boston, Mass, Matt MacKellar. Special mention of Matt - superb playing from start to finish, exiled in the US, it's our loss, the Yanks' gain.
To Jo Harrop's left, the one-and-only Emma Fisk! Violin playing of the highest order, bandleader Edis' masterful writing for the ensemble - strings and brass - makes the show what it is. Whatever the number - Let it Snow! to The Christmas Song - Paul Edis and Friends is Christmas come early. This evening (Tuesday) there is a final opportunity to see the show in the region at Queen's Hall, Hexham. It's a seven thirty start, get your skates on!
Concluding a review of A Jazzy Christmas this time last year (2023), your correspondent offered the thought: The Fire Station, High St West, Sunderland - venue of the year? Twelve months on, Sunderland's Fire Station just has to be a front runner this time round.
* Forty-eight hours earlier Sue played piccolo with the Strictly Smokin' Big Band. Russell
No comments :
Post a Comment