A Tom Harrell project, Zoë Gilby's Aurora album, formed the centre piece of today's lunchtime concert at Durham's Gala Theatre. Once again the main auditorium was utilised to aide social distancing. Zoë and the boys took to the stage without introduction, the first number, Leap to the Limelight, featuring our vocalist's lyrics to a Harrell composition, set the tone.
A feature of American trumpeter-composer Harrell's work is its serenity, the music anything but flamboyant. Zoë's band comprises musicians equally adept at full on tempo or measured performance. The latter was called for and guitarist Mark Williams showed commendable restraint, likewise bassist Andy Champion. They had their moments, but today was all about Zoë's interpretation of Harrell's considerable body of work. Shadowed in Solitude to Celestial Delight bookended no fewer than seven of the American's tunes.
Williams and Champion did shine, musicians of their calibre can't do otherwise, but it was good to hear drummer Richard Brown once again. It had been some time since he was a fixture on the local scene. This afternoon's concert reminded the audience just how sympathetic a musician he is with exemplary brush work throughout.
Aurora is but one of Zoë's many projects. When our APPJAG award-winning vocalist is next in the region be sure to get along. Russell
Set list: Leap to the Limelight; Shadowed in Solitude; Travelling Blues; Your Dear Heart My Dear Heart; Do it Again; Momentary Place of Peace; Red Right Hand; Dublin; Forget the Past; Celestial Delight.
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