Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise September, 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

18918 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 782 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 18.) 61.

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

From This Moment On

September.

Mon 21: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Coltrane centenary.

Tue 22: ???

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A John Coltrane Centenary Concert (b. 23. 09. 1926). SOLD OUT!
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 24: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 24: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 24: Arun Ghosh @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £21.05. (£22.00. on the door). A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Thu 24: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 25: Mark Williams Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Get the Blessing + Dilettante @ The Cluny (Cluny 2), Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £18.00. + bf. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Fri 25: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 26: Adam Fairhall & Johnny Hunter: Play Mary Lou Williams @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Sat 26: John Pope Quintet + Urvashi @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £15.40. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.

Sun 27: Salty Dog @ The Cluny. 12:30pm (doors). Free (donations).
Sun 27: Musicians Unlimited @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: Zach Sewell-Lara Hopper Quintet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00., £10.00.
Sun 27: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free. Ruth Lambert (vocals); Giles Strong (guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Sun 27: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: Alex Hitchcock Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £16.00., £14.00. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.

Friday, February 16, 2018

Zoë Gilby & Andy Champion @ Empty Shop, Durham - Feb 15

Zoë Gilby (vocals) & Andy Champion (double bass)
(Review by Russell).
It was cold. See photo of Zoë and Andy togged-up. At one point, Andy considered playing with his gloves on! Durham’s Empty Shop was a tad cad. The bar was warm enough with the door closed and a heater working overtime. A bottle of Pavlov’s Dog (Yes, Master…), ‘hello’ to Carlo and co.

Empty Shop’s performance space was cold. A heater, fixed to the ceiling, going full blast, directed warm air down onto a vacant seat below. Your reviewer claimed the seat – someone had to. Mine! All Mine! This was a first gig at Durham’s quirky venue for the Zoë Gilby-Andy Champion duo. First impressions? They liked it. Everyone does. 

West Coast Blues then Graceland then Goodbye Pork Pie Hat: Vocalist Zoë referenced the Nancy Wilson take on Wes Montgomery (lyrics by Sascha Burland), recalled singing Paul Simon as a duo at a friend’s wedding, then Mingus’ salute to Lester Young. Three tunes in, the audience loved it.

Andy thought it time to brave shirt sleeve-order, Zoë wasn’t having any of it, for now. The Gershwin songbook offered Nice Work If You Can Get It, a tune in complete contrast, Nick Cave’s dark, sinister Red Right Hand found Zoë completely immersed in both lyric and performance, then on to another heavyweight musician, John Martin and Solid Air, his dedication to Nick Drake. Voice and bass duo partnerships aren’t exactly thick on the ground, and making the format work can’t be easy, but Zoë and Andy have established a concert standard programme and it works anywhere – be it an empty shop or concert hall.  

Our Love is Here to Stay, then some Kate Bush, then Monk – Straight No Chaser. The Monk held the audience rapt with virtuosic vocals and bass playing winning loud applause. Andy took his bass for a walk on A Weaver of Dreams and Zoë’s amazing vocal dexterity on Tom Waits’ Way Down in the Hole was (and is always) a highlight of their set. An enjoyable, if cold, evening.              
Russell

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