Portrait in Evans: Noa Levy & Paul Edis @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead - Apr. 25

© John Lyons

Noa Levy (vocals); Paul Edis (MD, piano); Alan Barnes (alto sax, clarinet, bass clarinet); Andy Champion (double bass); Steve Hanley (drums)

A familiar name and a new name. The returning Paul Edis was on home turf, Noa Levy, from San Francisco by way of London, was making her regional debut. Portrait in Evans is their collaborative project saluting the late, great pianist Bill Evans. Gateshead's Glasshouse (formerly Sage Gateshead) welcomed the principals and their amazing band.

© John Lyons

Opening with Peri's Scope, Edis, Levy and co made an immediate impact. Across the course of two sets Levy's lyrics and vocal delivery proved to be a knockout. Pianist Edis is a fan of Bill Evans, Levy is a fan - a match made in heaven, you could say. It helps to have a top notch band in tow, and here on Gateshead Quays this evening our principals called upon the services of Alan Barnes (!), Andy Champion (!) and Steve Hanley (!). A not too shabby band!

Edis spoke with authority about his subject: Evans' music, Evans' relationships with his fellow musicians and the women in his life. Levy, too, knew all about Bill Evans. The evening's set list was, of necessity, selective. Very Early (a clarinet feature for the great Alan Barnes), Funkallero (Levy demonstrating her great range, Barnes tearing it up on alto sax, drummer Steve Hanley having his say), Kind of Blue (Barnes' sole use of bass clarinet), Laurie (Levy singing Bob Dorough's lyrics), for fans of Bill Evans this an unmissable evening!      

© John Lyons

Introducing We Will Meet Again, Edis forewarned his audience that we would hear some Bach counterpoint. And so we did. Excellent! For an encore, two compositions, Edis and Levy, alone together, on Turn Out the Stars, the band returning to the stage to close the evening with Lucky to be Me. 

If you're lucky enough to be in London on Thursday 30 April, you could/should make your way to the Pizza Express, Dean Street where Paul Edis, Noa Levy and Alan Banes will be joined by Simon Read (double bass) and Steve Brown (drums) in an International Jazz Day celebration of Bill Evans. Russell   

Set list: Peri's Scope; Very Early; Time Remembered; Funkallero; Tiffany; Blue in Green; Nardis; Waltz for Debby; Only Child; For Nenette; Laurie; We Will Meet Again; Turn Out the Stars; Lucky to be Me.