Zoe Gilby - Looking Glass CD Launch @ The Cluny

Zoe Gilby (vcl), Noel Dennis (tpt), Mark Williams (gtr), Andy Champion (bs), Richard Brown (dms). Zoe looked gorgeous and sounded great. Having heard the CD for review purposes I knew what to expect but, brilliant as the CD is, it doesn't compare with hearing the same tracks live. Although I've heard Zoe many times over the past 2/3 years I think it was tonight that I fully appreciated the vocal range at her disposal. The ease with which Zoe ascends into the upper register harmonics without any loss of intonation is indicative of how good an ear she has - an essential ingredient for a jazz musician and Zoe is just that - the voice is her instrument, arguably the voice is the greatest instrument of them all. Most of the songs were from the new CD plus Squeeze Me from her first and Caravan from possibly the next. On trumpet, Noel Dennis excelled and we came to realise how much we missed his regular appearances at the old Side Café. Mark Williams, on a roll from Sunday's session at The Bridge, Andy Champion - a bowed bass solo on That Old Black Magic that many a violinist would struggle to match whilst, on the same number, Richard Brown kept the tempo going at a speed that would have got him slung in the nick if he'd been driving a car. It was a grand night fully appreciated by the packed Cluny audience. Emotional moment at the end when Zoe was presented with a bouquet from her dad, trumpet-player Mike Gilby - unable to attend because of ill-health. If you couldn't get make sure you check out the CD. Photos. Lance.