Bebop Spoken There

Emma Rawicz: "In a couple of years I've gone from being a normal university student to suddenly being on international stages." DownBeat January 2026.

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

18246 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 100 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 31), 100

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Wed 04: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 04: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 04: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 05: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject:Times of the Day & Trios.
Thu 05: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Special guest Emma Wilson.
Thu 05: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 06: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 06: Durham Alumni Big Band & Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn Theatre. 7:30pm. £12.00. Two big bands on stage together!
Fri 06: Nauta + Littlewood Trio @ Little Buildings, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Double bill + jam session.
Fri 06: FILM: Made in America @ Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Ornette Coleman.
Fri 06: Deep Six Blues @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.

Sat 07: The Big Easy @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 07: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30-3:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 08: Swing Tyne @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12 noon (doors). Donations. Swing dance taster class (12:30pm) + Hot Club de Heaton (live performance). Non dancers welcome.
Sun 08: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 09: Mark Williams Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 09: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 10: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Thursday, August 26, 2010

CD Review: Looking Glass - Zoe Gilby

Zoe Gilby (vcl), Andy Champion (bs), Mark Williams (gtr), Noel Dennis (tpt), Richard Brown (dms)
Zoe's second CD showcases the way her voice and her approach have matured over the past couple of years. Zoe's previous disc and her early gigs showed the attractive song-stylist to be a singer of impeccable taste, an interpreter of the gasbook - one of the best jazz girls around the north-east spots. With Looking Glass the bar is raised. Forget local this is a disc that, given the exposure, can compete on the world stage .
A mix of standards Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me, Time After Time, Only Have Eyes For You, I'm Beginning To See The Light/When Lights Are Low, That Old Black Magic. Some not quite so well known pieces - Tom Waits, Leon Russell, Nancy Wilson, Leiber and Stoller - and originals by Zoe and her co-pilot Andy Champion. Oh yes - there's also BSH contributor George Milburn's Take It Easy - an esoteric piece of nonsense over an attractive tune.
Apart from Zoe's compelling vocals there is some wonderful work going on behind her from Mark Williams and Noel Dennis. Richard Brown and husband to be Andy Champion provide the perfect foundation. Andy also produced the session.
The CD is officially launched at The Cluny, Lime Street, Ouseburn, Newcastle, on Sept. 7. 8:00pm for 8:30 start.
Only one negative. Minute white printing on a light green background make the booklet difficult to read.
No problem with the music though - nice one Zoe!
Lance.
Looking Glass - Zoe Gilby. Jazz Action JA18

3 comments :

Anonymous said...

It may be esoteric nonsense to you Lance but women seem to understand it! Zoe chose the verses from a poem what I wrote. The title by the way is Take it Easy but Take it, which may illuminate the poetic sense? Hey, you can please some of the people....

Lance said...

Don't get me wrong George (assuming it is you) - perhaps nonsense was the wrong word to use - I love it I just don't understand the lyric! I had the same problem first time I heard 'MacArthur Park'.

George Milburn said...

Hey Lance, Now there was a song with more meaning than you could shake a whisk at. I'll pretentiously explain the lyric next time I see you - Oui, it was moi!

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