Congratulations to Zoë Gilby on APPJAG Award

(Report by Lance/Photo from Zoë Gilby's Facebook page)

As announced in the previous post  Zoë Gilby aced the Jazz Vocal category in this year's All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group (APPJAG) 2019 awards.

At the ceremony, held in the Pizza Express Jazz Club, Holborn, London, Zoë held off strong competion to win the prestigious award. This was a fitting milestone in her still developing career who knows what the future holds in store for her?

It was back in April 2008 when Zoë was first mentioned on BSH after a gig at the Side Café in Newcastle and it became obvious then that this was a girl going places - helped along the way by several key figures not least of which was her father.

The late Mike Gilby, an outstanding trumpet player, arranger, bandleader and all-round musician provided his daughter with support and inspiration to embark upon her own career that saw her singing with Mike's big band and various small groups of her own..

Bass player and future husband Andy Champion (pictured) provided further impetus to her developement. Andy, now achieving national recognition himself, encouraged Zoë to add lyric-writing to her skills and the pair combined to write several original pieces as well as performing as a bass and voice duo.

The duo gigs came about after Zoë attended a masterclass by the legendary American jazz singer Sheila Jordan who also played an important role in her career.

The above people provided the ingredients but it was the singer herself who put them all together and made her what she is today.

Well done!

Full details of the awards can be found on London Jazz News.

Lance