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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Mississippi MacDonald @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm. Blues.
Sat 22: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm. £16.50. SOLD OUT!
Sat 22: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mark Williams Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 23: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Mu Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: ?

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Fri 28: Luis Verde Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Knats @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.50. (inc bf.). Album launch gig. Support act TBC.
Fri 28: Black is the Color of My Voice @ The Gala, Durham. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, performed by Florence Odumosu.
Fri 28: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival: Musicians Unlimited @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. £10.00. (Weekend ticket £20.00., available on the door). Day 1/3. Musicians Unlimited in concert.
Fri 28: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Zoë Gilby & Paul Edis @ Ronnie Scott's - July 20

Zoë Gilby (vocals); Paul Edis (piano)

Mid-summer, temperatures nudging 30°, the capital city appeared to be as busy as ever. An early morning Azuma - first stop King's Cross - arrived bang on time, not to the minute, rather, to the second. A good start to the day. Things couldn't get any better, certainly not worse, could they? 

The plan...hit the art galleries, browse - and almost certainly buy something from - the bookshops, go to the pub then on to Ronnie's. The masterplan was to take in two gigs at Ronnie's, the early evening show 'Upstairs @ Ronnie's' and, later in the evening, the second house in the main room. The latter event featuring pianist Emmet Cohen's NYC trio hit the buffers when uncertainty over travel/quarantine regulations forced a postponement.* The former event, an edition of the weekly Braziliance session Upstairs @ Ronnie's, presented two north east of England born and bred stars of the British jazz scene. APPJAG award-winning vocalist Zoë Gilby travelled down from her Tyneside home to meet up with her London based friend and master pianist, Paul Edis. 

Arriving in Soho shortly before seven o'clock, Frith Street had taken on a carnival atmosphere with the road closed to traffic - it was pavement-to-pavement tables and chairs. Evidently, pubs, bars, cafes and restaurant businesses were looking to make up for lost time - and income - in these post lockdown times. Ascending the stairs at 47 Frith Street, the first person to come into view was our very own superstar, Ms Zoë Gilby! An elbow bump greeting, a short exchange, it ain't easy when wearing face coverings! And there was Mr Edis, a similarly brief exchange. The upstairs room was a sell out, most tables reserved. Ignoring a 'reserved' sign, your correspondent duly occupied a front row table to write a first set-only review. Another gig elsewhere would determine an early departure. 

At seven on the dot, Zoë and Paul took to the floor. Zoë looking elegant and über cool, as always, Paul looking business like in a lounge suit, opened their set with In Walked Bud. If you're out to impress a Ronnie's crowd it's an idea to hit the ground running. Zoë and Paul know all about that and this was the perfect way to introduce themselves. Zoë in fine voice, commanding the room from the first note, Paul reminding us, if we needed reminding, that he is as accomplished a pianist as anyone - Tyneside, London...watch out New York! 

Shadowed in Solitude, the first of two cuts from Zoë's Tom Harrell 'Aurora' project, held the attention of the cocktail-drinking audience, our AAPJAG award-winner joking her Geordie-American lyrics to Harrell's Moon Alley were seemingly understood by everyone in the room. Wye aye, man! This being a Braziliance gig, our duo made an effort to stick to the remit. A rhumba take on Ellington's Do Nothing till You Hear from Me more than fulfilled any requirements, Paul knocking 'em dead with rhumba and a whole lot more rhythmic variations. If anyone present was thinking: Who is this guy?, they know now! 

The Midnight Bell is a Zoë Gilby composition. Your correspondent has heard Zoë sing the Patrick Hamilton (The Midnight Bell, novel published 1929) -inspired song on countless occasions. Here at Ronnie's she didn't disappoint, Zoë will do well to come up with something to match it, both compositionally and lyrically. The only thing missing was Mark Williams' invariably sublime guitar solo! To conclude a fine first set, Zoë and Paul selected two cast iron winners, first, On Green Dolphin Street and a corking Blue Monk. Zoë and Paul are a class act, performing at a world famous venue is quite something. Whenever and wherever our duo turn up - Tyneside, London, NYC - don't miss them! 

* Emmet Cohen will be at Ronnie Scott's on Wednesday 13 October. 

Russell

Set list (first set): In Walked BudShadowed in Solitude (Moon Alley)Do Nothing till You Hear from MeForget the Past (April Mist)DindiThe Midnight BellOn Green Dolphin Street; Blue Monk

1 comment :

Lance said...

Although I wasn't at the gig, our roving reporter was, and his mention of The Midnight Bell based on the first part of a trilogy by Patrick Hamilton - Twenty Thousand Streets Under the Sky - invariably has me pulling the book down off the shelf and re-reading it. I don't know how many times I've done this but it probably equates with the number of times I've heard ZG sing it. Her lyrics completely capture the mood of the book.

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