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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 2025).

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

17719 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 39 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Jan. 15).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Fri 17: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 17: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 17: Joe Steels Trio w. Graham Hardy @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. (inc. a welcome drink & table reservation). Book at: www.drinks@thepele.co.uk. A ‘Jazz at the Pele’ promotion.
Fri 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 18: Alter Ego + Jamie Toms/Graham Don Duo @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 18: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Repas 7 by Night, West St., Berwick TD15 1AS. 7:30pm. Free. Album launch gig.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 20: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 21: ???

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

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

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Zoe Gilby @ The Cask, Scarborough. Jan 23.

Vocalist Zoe Gilby and her band gave an evening of excellent entertainment at Scarborough Jazz on the 23rd January. This was their second visit and it was notable that their repertoire included more original songs than on their first appearance. This demonstrates -  quite rightly - their confidence in such material.  Some of these songs are inspired by novels: ' The Midnight Bell'  describes a fictional pub that sounds worth a visit. 'Guilty Man ' and 'On The Edge' also had their inspiration from novels, while ' Your  Words' was a recollection of disillusioned love. Zoe's first  impressions of Marrakesh were captured in 'Red City'. 
Scattered throughout both sets were better known standards that were  well chosen and every number had clever arrangements and good  musicianship.

With Zoe were Mark Williams - guitar, Richard Brown - drums and  husband Andy Champion on double bass. They have all been together  long enough to have melded into a swinging unit with great personal  skills.
Zoe is interesting when introducing the numbers, either telling how they came about or recalling who she first heard singing it. In the  case of 'Some Cats Know' it was Peggy Lee, and Zoe gave it a wonderfully sultry feel. Only 'Halfway To Heaven' seemed to to have a vague attribution, as she came across the song on the internet without any provenance. It is a fun, raunchy song, whoever wrote it.
The evening had too many highlights for them all to be mentioned, but I would like to applaud the courage in opening the first set with a very slow ballad sung over only a bowed bass accompaniment. That seemed to epitomise Zoe Gilby's self confidence and flair. Come to think of it, I never heard her ask for a starting note or glance at a lyric sheet once during the entire session! I'm sure that I speak for the very appreciative audience when I say that I look forward to the next visit by this remarkable band.
Dick Armstrong.

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