Primary Instrument: Piano
Paul is a familiar figure on the North East Jazz scene. He appears regularly with a host of local musicians and with touring artists and guest soloists including Tim Garland, Greg Abate, Julian Siegel, Tony Kofi and Alan Barnes. Paul has performed at some of the UK's top venues, festivals and on radio. He has given classical recitals, played for numerous shows and recordings and is in high demand as a sight-reader and accompanist.
He has established two groups that appear regularly under his own name.
Paul Edis Sextet
When Paul first expanded his acclaimed trio to form a sextet, it was soon being hailed as “one of the most accomplished and original bands of recent years”, and it's certainly lived up to the billing. With a front line of Graham Hardy on trumpet, Graeme Wilson on sax and Chris Hibbard on trombone, it has the look of a classic hard bop band, and it certainly has the drive and energy of a Horace Silver or Art Blakey ensemble. But Paul's imaginative arrangements of jazz standards, and a growing book of original compositions, make sure that there's also a distinctly contemporary feel. If this is music that has its roots in the 1960s, its blossoms are absolutely of today!
Released in March 2012, 'There Will Be Time' is the debut album from the Paul Edis Sextet. It features 12 original compositions penned by Edis and saxophonist Graeme Wilson that ‘should be in every band's library alongside Joyspring and Take The A Train’ (Lance Liddle, Bebop Spoken Here). With praise from jazz luminaries including Greg Abate, ‘Very nice, different approach, great playing, nice tunes!’ There Will Be Time has also attracted some very positive reviews, 'clear strength in compositional creativity; it never falters anywhere', (Josh Jennings, Jazz Shaped) and in August 2012 the track 'Ravelations' was played on Radio 3 (Jazz Record Requests). The Paul Edis Sextet are looking to tour with the album in 2013.
Paul Edis Trio
This piano trio is just as comfortable playing original compositions as it is standards. Led by pianist Paul Edis, bassist Mick Shoulder and drummer Adam Sinclair complete the trio which performs regularly at some of the most prestigious venues in the area. Often called upon to accompany touring soloists, the Paul Edis Trio has performed with Julian Siegel, Tony Kofi, Greg Abate, Simon Spillet, John Hallam, Vasilis Xenopoulos and Steve Andrews to date.
With an extensive repertoire of original material from Edis and Shoulder and a number of arrangements of standards, the trio also performs a concert called 'The Music of Bill Evans' featuring a selection of Evans’ compositions alongside an engaging narrative about a most influential and inspirational musician.
'A skilled composer as well as a fine pianist...a player of immense promise' Ian Mann, TheJazzMann
Primary Instrument:
Piano
Credentials/Background:
PhD, MA, Bmus (Hons)
Paul has proven his ability and passion as an educator in both group and one to one teaching situations. He currently teaches a module in Aural Perception at York University, he is a jazz piano tutor for the Sage Gateshead 'Young Musician Program' as well as giving private lessons to pupils of all ability and ages, including students from Durham University. He has been a woodwind and keyboard peripatetic tutor for Sunderland Council for over 4 years, he has worked for Gateshead, Durham and Northampton Councils giving workshops on Composition for pop music, silent films, singing and performance technique.
