Jazz Festival Memories 5: Sheila Jordan @ Sage Gateshead 2009

I first saw Sheila Jordan in 1983 at the North Sea Jazz Festival which, back then, was held in Den Haag (The Hague). She was singing with the George Gruntz Orchestra which also had Charlie Mariano blowing alto and soprano.  I'd like to say that it had been a watershed moment and, maybe it was. 

However, at a megalithic festival like North Sea where, on any one day, there are a multitude of concerts simultaneously taking place one invariably finds oneself flitting from place to place (and having a brew in each). Combined with the passage of time the memory often dims...

No such problems at Sage Gateshead in 2009 where Sheila Jordan gave two fantastic performances with, in between, a masterclass for singers ...

One of those singers was Zoë Gilby. Her future, like her approach and her understanding of the music would change forever. At the 2018 festival she actually shared the bill with Sheila and, the following year, found herself the recipient of the 2019 APPJAG vocal award.

Sheila's now in her 93rd year but the indefatigable bebop pioneer is still carrying the flame and, like her hairstyle (see photo), I doubt if she'll ever change - Lance