Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''I believe we are living in a historically embarrassing moment in American history.'' - Downbeat December 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

18061 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1025 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Dec. 14).

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

Fri 19: Fraser Urquhart @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT! .
Fri 19: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free..
Fri 19: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free..
Fri 19: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00..
Fri 19: Castillo Nuevo @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:00pm. Free. .
Fri 19: Alexia Gardner @ FIKA Art Gallery, Morpeth. 6:30pm. Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy..
Fri 19: Paul Skerritt @ Middlesbrough Town Hall. 7:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes. .
Fri 19: Giles Strong Quartet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club..
Fri 19: Creakin’ Bones & the Xmas Dinners @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £13.01 (inc. bf)..
Fri 19: Mark Toomey Quintet @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.

Sat 20: Jazz Attack @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 11:00am. Free.
Sat 20: Alexia Gardner @ FIKA Art Gallery, Morpeth. 6:30pm. Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy. SOLD OUT!
Sat 20: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 20: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 20: Hoodoo Blues @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:15pm (doors). £14.25, £11.55. Dance class, social dancing, live music & Xmas Party. Live music from 9:00pm - Ruth Lambert, Giles Strong, Ian Paterson & John Bradford (jazz and blues).
Sat 20: John Pope Quintet @ Blank Studios, Newcastle. 7:30-8:30pm. £7.70 (inc. bf). Album recording session.

Sun 21: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. ‘Xmas Swingalong’. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 21: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ o2 City Hall, Newcastle. 6:00pm. £35.80., £33.25., £31.00.
Sun 21: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music.
Sun 21: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:30pm. Free.

Mon 22: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 23: Paul Skerritt @ Chakh Dhoom, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Indian restaurant. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Wed 24: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 24: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:30pm. ‘The A Capella Sessions’. Gardner, Paula Gardner, Alexia Hope Gardner Diamany.
Wed 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Thu 25: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:00pm. ‘All About the Bass Sessions’. Alexia Gardner, Paula Gardner, Jude Murphy.

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

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   

No comments :

Blog Archive