Bebop Spoken There

Melissa Aldana: ''Having to play a ballads album, which is something very revealing for a saxophone player, would help me to question some new aspects of how to go deeper into sound." (DownBeat May, 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

18621 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 485 of them this year alone and, so far this month (June 14) 37

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

June

Tue 23: Alan Law Trio @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free.
Tue 23: Jude Murphy & Dan Stanley @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 24: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 24: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 24: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 25: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 25: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Forgotten Ones & Any Quintets.
Thu 25: Edgar Ho Trio @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free. Brilliant alto sax, piano & double bass trio. Unmissable!
Thu 25: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 26: Finn-Keeble Group @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £9:00.
Fri 26: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 26: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 26: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 26: Clark Tracey @ Live Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Newcastle Jazz Festival. £26.00. Day 1/2.

Sat 27: OUTRI @ Live Theatre, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £13.01. 1:00-1:45pm. Newcastle Jazz Festival. Day 2/2.
Sat 27: House of the Black Gardenia + Magpies of Swing @ The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sat 27: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Live Theatre, Newcastle. 2:15-3:15pm. £13.01. Newcastle Jazz Festival. Day 2/2.
Sat 27: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ Live Theatre, Newcastle. 3:45-4:45pm. £13.01. Newcastle Jazz Festival. Day 2/2.
Sat 27: Rory Ingham @ Live Theatre, Newcastle. 5:30-6:30pm. £19.51. Newcastle Jazz Festival. Day 2/2. Ingham w. Dean Stockdale, Ian Paterson, Dave McKeague.
Sat 27: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 27: Laura Jurd @ Live Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £26.00. Newcastle Jazz Festival. Day 2/2. Sat 27: Brass Fiesta @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 10:30pm. Free.

Sun 28: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 28: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: Tim Kliphuis Trio @ St Mary’s Church, Wooler. 3:00pm. £18.00., £6.00. A Wooler Arts Summer Concerts event. Tim Kliphuis (violin); Nigel Clark (guitar); Roy Percy (double bass).
Sun 28: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: An Evening of Jazz @ St James’ Church, Copper Chare, Morpeth. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.00 from 01670 788869 or 01670 519923. Mid Northumberland Chorus (MD Robin Forbes, Emma Straughan, piano) w. jazz trio featuring Edgar Ho, Oscar Ho & Dave McKeague & special guest Emily Masser. Performance inc. Bob Chilcott’s A Little Jazz Mass + George Shearing’s Songs & Sonnets.
Sun 28: Led Bib @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £15.00., £12.00. JNE.

Mon 29: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Monday, September 21, 2020

Living in Shadows to release Sending Electricity, second single from upcoming album

(Press release)

Photography by Adam Kennedy.


Hot on the heels of their debut release in late July, Living in Shadows, the award-winning Zoë Gilby and multi-instrumentalist Andy Champion release their second single, Sending Electricity, available late September.

Where For the Day portrayed the concept of motion, Sending Electricity reveals the affairs of the heart and the concept of love, no matter the distance.

Initially penned by Zoë whilst Andy was away touring, the All Parliamentary Jazz Awards Jazz Vocalist of the Year provided insight into the new track, saying: “I wrote the lyrics and melody to Sending Electricity whilst Andy was away on tour.

“I missed him so much but we kept in touch daily with texts, WhatsApp messages, emails, phone calls and, although he was miles away, I felt like he was with me still. “That in itself instilled in me again the strength in our relationship despite not being with each other, so this, really, is a love song.”

Meanwhile, Andy added: “As a jazz musician and composer I have produced and been part of a lot of new exciting improvised music, the majority being instrumental.

“It has always been a bit of a dream of mine though to actually be part of a 'progressive' band with a vocalist.”

Alongside fellow musicians, guitarist Mark Williams and pianist Paul Edis, exciting and intricate components of the Living in Shadows project, they having worked with Gilby and Champion regularly over the past decade and are an essential part of the structure of the whole approach and sound brought to the fore by the project.

The bond of friendship is often acquainted with the bond created through love and the bond that is shared between Zoë and Andy, and with Mark and Paul, is especially strong and, as is the case romantically, they are on the same wavelength, creating something together in a manner of a special and rewarding kinship.

Both Mark and Paul’s attitude and approach are a major part of Living in Shadows building blocks. It is a joy and an honour to collaborate with these exceptional, inspiring and creative musicians.

“Our working relationship wouldn't be complete without the input from Mark Williams (guitar), Paul Edis (piano) and the beautiful sax playing on our first single For The Day, from Graeme Wilson,” continued Andy.  “I have worked with these musicians continuously in many different projects over the years. I knew their ideas and style of musicianship would be ideal for Living in Shadows.”


“It’s not just unique to Andy and I, others will identify with it too,” further explained Zoë of their new offering. “Missing someone who they love and, no matter the circumstances that have caused separation, then as a partnership are strong, solid, and unbreakable. “Partners often work away from home, fight in wars across the globe, even live in the same house but due to a modern schedule and busy family lives have meant the overall relationship has become estranged. “It doesn’t always mean that the love and the connection have gone.”

Sending Electricity, the second single from the Living in Shadows project by Zoë Gilby and Andy Champion, will be available to download via all digital platforms on Friday 25 September.

Featuring new social media platforms, Living in Shadows can be found on Facebook  and Twitter  or via www.livinginshadows.com   

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