Gala Theatre, Durham – Lunchtime Gigs Spring 2016

January 15 – Zoe Gilby Quartet

Zoë Gilby is a jazz vocalist and songwriter that has been making a real impression on the jazz scene today. A repertoire starting with her compelling original compositions written with double bassist husband Andy Champion and performed by her highly accomplished band, guitarist Mark Williams and drummer Richard Brown. Her stockpile of music reaches a wide range of more contemporary material from composers such as Pink Floyd to Kate Bush. Also included are some superb interpretations of “The Great American Songbook”

Her influences include Carmen McRae, Sheila Jordan, Kate Bush and Joni Mitchell
Twice she has received touring support from Jazz Services and has performed with some of the UK top jazz musicians, including Jim Mullen Organ Trio, Dave Newton, Alan Barnes and Tony Faulkner.

February 12 – Graeme Wilson Quartet

“As good as it gets” – Bebop Spoken Here

"Ceaselessly original and imaginative" - Schmazz website

This band is all about heartfelt improvisation on idiosyncratic tunes that stay with you. The players infuse driving jazz and latin rhythms or ambient swing with their various enthusiasms including folk and rock ballads, free jazz and the dancefloor. Their original material explores unusual meters and structures as vehicles for angular and passionate solos, with narrative melodies resonant enough to evoke a strong sense of place and time.

March 4 - James Birkett and Bradley Johnston Duo

From Eddie Lang, through Django Reinhardt, to Pat Metheny and beyond, the guitar continues to have a universal appeal. James and Bradley present a programme of music by some of the most influential players of the last hundred years – taking the audience on a musical journey which moves from early jazz and blues, through swing and bebop, to cool and contemporary jazz.

April 8 – Graham Hardy and Paul Edis Duo

Graham Hardy is an extremely versatile and talented Trumpeter, composer andarranger, well known on the local scene as a sideman in the Sue Ferris Quintet, the Paul Edis Sextet and the Mick Shoulder Quintet as well as leading his own band the Northern Monkey Brass Band. He teams up for this gig with Paul Edis, described as a ‘brilliant young pianist’ (Alyn Shipton, The Guardian) to perform a concert that includes music by Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis alongside original material from the duo.

All concerts are 1-2pm, £4 from the box office