Zoe Gilby (vcl), Andy Champion (bs).
The singer who decides to do a number accompanied only by double bass walks a musical tightrope. The failure rate is high. Fortunately, the fall is cushioned by the safety net of having the comfort zone of a band to fall back on in the next number.
However, when the chanter elects to play a whole gig with only the bass for support then there ain't no safety net and disaster beckons with every note.
That no such catastrophe occurred tonight speaks volumes for Zoe and Andy performing only their second gig as a duo.
"Time After Time", "Comes Love", "Nice Work If You Can Get it," "Round Midnight", "One Note Samba" were just some of the mouthwatering gems Sir Andrew and Dame Zoe treat the Blaydon faithful to. "A Weaver of Dreams" - absolutely ravishing - "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" aaah - Roberta Flack, Clint Eastwood and the film "Play Misty for Me". I could feel the hair curling on the back of my neck as Zoe brought back memories of that scary film. Among it all Andy performed like an orchestra in support of his future missus. His solos were something else too.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the evening was when Zoe introduced a song written by one of Bebop Spoken Here's contributers. I refer to George Milburn.
"Take It Easy ...But Take It." was given its world premiere tonight in Blaydon. Well done George we are proud of you it's got a clever lyric - it's a good song and Zoe and Andy did it justice.
In the final "West Coast Blues" Zoe ad libbed tributes to George, Roly who organised the gig, and to Bebop Spoken Here - nice one Zoe.
Mark Self video (shortly)
Lance.
3 comments :
I was enthralled by this concert from start to finish. You could tell from the first few notes it was all going to work. Agreed, well done Zoe & Andy - a wonderful effort.
Roly
Lyrical Lance, thanks for your kind words when all I could say was, "It could be a tad faster!" ungrateful swine, flew by when we were having so much fun! This duo performance should be an album which I would play and play ; on Mark Self's film you can hear the pins dropping all the way through - along with the discerning jazz jaws! www.musicfilmbroth.com
Zoe is some Chanteuse & that's for sure, do hope that one day I will get to see her & Andy. The choice of numbers was superb
Liz
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