A Jazzy Xmas @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. Dec. 13 (evening)

Paul Edis (MD, piano); Jo Harrop (vocals); Vasilis Xenopoulos (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)

Following on from a review of the same band playing the same tunes, even at a different venue, is a two-edged sword. So said BSH Editor-in-Chief, LL. Well, here's a third review in twenty four hours of the same show. 

Familiar as most with Hall Two, in taking a seat your correspondent did the usual: Excuse me, thanks. Excuse me, fellow concert-goers rising from their seats. Squeezing past, glancing at the seat numbers, something wasn't right. The penny dropped. Wrong seat! Wrong row! Cue the Excuse me routine in reverse. Slaloming through the cabaret table layout - the lights were about to go down - the seat was over there, wasn't it? Excuse me, thanks. Excuse me. Nope! Wrong seat! Wrong row! The house lights down, it was too late to go in search of the elusive seat. Let's sit down and bluff it...

A Jazzy Xmas made its debut the best part of a decade ago right here in Hall Two. The show hasn't changed too much over the years - the same core musicians, the set list slowly evolving, the same terrible jokes. It wouldn't be Christmas without Paul Edis and Friends. Winter Wonderland. Tick. The Christmas Waltz. Tick. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree. Tick. 

The interval. Against the odds, your correspondent made it to the bar without any difficulty. A bottle of Grainger Ale. The Glasshouse now cashless throughout. 

Second set. Edis channelling Basie, a fleeting bebop quote here and there, 'proper jazz', if you like. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (LL's review of the matinee show mentioned the 'stereophonic sound', this evening it was more like 'surround sound' as the ensemble dispersed to all points) worked, it always does. José Feliciano's Feliz Navidad had the audience singing along. Note to BSH Editor-in-Chief, bandleader Edis said this evening's singalong eclipsed that of the afternoon's effort. Stick that in your pipe! 

With White Christmas, the count down was on, it would soon be Christmas.

And what of the band? Flawless. Jo, of course. Soloists Emma, Sue, Vasi, Faye, Graham and Jason, all top class. As for the rhythm section - Andy and Matt - none better. And what of bandleader P. Edis? Superb piano playing, brilliant arrangements, not forgetting the terrible jokes! 

A Jazzy Xmas continues its run of five performances across the region at Queen's Hall, Hexham on Tuesday (Dec. 16), concluding on Wednesday (Dec. 17) at Sunderland's Fire Station. Tickets are running low, book now at: 

www.queenshall.co.uk and www.thefirestation.org.uk. Russell