Music: Vasilis Xenopoulos and Paul Edis Quartet Quartet

Saxophonist Vasilis Xenopoulos provided one of our most memorable gigs of 2023 when he visited to present his Dexterity project, playing the music of Dexter Gordon as quintet.

For his latest venture he has teamed up with long term collaborator pianist Paul Edis for new album Feels Like Home, released April 2024 on the Ubuntu label.

Vasilis and Paul began playing together 20 years ago when both relocated to West London to study. Originally from Greece, Vasilis had just finished studying at Berklee College in the US, while Paul had moved South from the Northeast of England. In the intervening years, they’ve played numerous gigs together, releasing their debut album in 2016, A Narrow Escape, to critical acclaim. With Joel Barford (drums) and Adam King (double bass), their latest recording features original music inspired by the theme of ‘home’…home in this sense represents not only the many places they’ve both lived, but also the people they’ve known along the way.

Saxophonist Vasilis Xenopoulos is one of the most accomplished Greek jazz musicians of his generation and a genuine representative of straight-ahead jazz. London became his permanent home after graduating with honours from the Berklee College of Music in Boston and gradually established himself as one of London’s top saxophonists. Besides his Dexterity project he has also worked extensively with guitarist Nigel Price and the band Five Way Split alongside trumpeter Quentin Collins who we also presented as a guest artist in Oct 23. “One of the most fiery young saxophonists around blazes a path through the hard bop repertoire” – The Times ★★★★

Pianist Paul Edis is one of the leading creative musicians in the UK today. As a performer, composer and educator, he has built a reputation for consistently delivering new and original ideas, seeking to innovate within his work while always paying respect to both the jazz and classical music traditions. As well as leading his own sextet, trio and performing solo engagements, Paul works regularly with vocalist Jo Harrop. Their album “When Winter Turns To Spring” won Best Album at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2023. Paul also works as an educator for organisations including Sage Gateshead, National Youth Jazz Orchestra and National Youth Jazz Collective.

For this performance of tunes from the Feels Like Home album Vasilis and Paul are joined by one of Bristol’s finest rhythm teams, Chris Jones on bass and Andy Hague on drums.

Album preview video: