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

18602 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 466 of them this year alone and, so far this month (June 8) 17

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

Sat 13: Ladies of Midnight Blue + Northern Monkey Brass Band @ Northumberland Miners’ Picnic, Woodhorn Museum, Ashington NE63 9YF. Free. From 10:00am. Ladies of Midnight Blue (3:00-3:45pm); Northern Monkey Brass Band (4:00-4:45pm).
Sat 13: Sarah Spencer’s Transatlantic Jazz Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 13: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Saltburn Bandstand. 2:30-4:30pm. Free.
Sat 13: Courtney Pine @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £35.80. Pine (saxophones); Robert Mitchell (piano); Rio Kai (double bass); Romarna Campbell (drums). ‘A Modern-Day Jazz Story 1986 - 2026’.

Sun 14: Front Porch Band: Swing Tyne’s Swing Social @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12 noon (doors). Donations (£5.00. - £10.00. suggested). Swing dance event w. taster class (12:30pm).
Sun 14: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 14: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 14: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 14: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 14: Doctor Jazz @ The Old Church, Sacriston, Durham. 3:00-5:00pm . Free (donations welcome). New Orleans, blues & classic 20th century songs. Food & soft drinks available, BYOB.
Sun 14: Eddie Gripper Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Gripper (piano); Clem Saynor (double bass); Patrick Barrett-Donlon (drums). Americana album tour.

Mon 15: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 15: Dan Johnson w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 16: Alan Law Trio @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free.
Tue 16: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 17: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 17: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 18: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 18: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 18: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 18: 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 19: Joe Steels Group @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. 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: Ferg’s Imaginary Big Band @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £14.33., £11.16., £8.00.
Fri 19: Martin Litton @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. £13.01 (inc. bf); £6.50 (inc. bf); £15.00 on the door. Solo piano. CANCELLED!
Fri 19: Jools Holland’s R&B Orchestra @ Hippodrome, Darlington. 7:30pm. Joe Webb support set.
Fri 19: Hot Club du Nord @ Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7:30pm.
Fri 19: Jive Aces: The Roots of Rock & Roll @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £20.00 + bf.

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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