What do American trumpet player Tom Harrell and the great British novelist, the late Patrick Hamilton have in common?
Answer: They've both had their work lyricised by Zoë Gilby.
In the case of the latter, arguably the greatest British novelist/playwright, Zoë put words to Andy Champion's music both of which were inspired by Hamilton's novel The Midnight Bell.
The words convey the atmosphere of a rundown London pub back in the late 1920s/early '30s. Zoë's words bring to life the sad story of the losers whose life centres around the hours between opening and closing time. They could be equally applied today.
The Midnight Bell forms part of a trilogy that came together as Twenty Thousand Streets Under the Sky. It was dramatised on BBC in 2005 and, upon reflection, Zoë's words would have been perfect over the soundtrack. She suggested to the audience that it was worth checking out - surely it must be somewhere on the shelves of the Lit and Phil.
The Tom Harrell connection can be heard in full on Zoë's album Aurora - reviewed HERE with Noel Dennis on trumpet. Again our gal puts words to the tunes and often changes the titles. All done with the thumbs-up approval of Tom Harrell.
This afternoon, the once again sold-out Lit and Phil audience were given an enjoyable afternoon of jazz.
Zoë was in good voice, her distinctive annunciation of a lyric and her unique sense of vocalese/scat sets her apart from her contemporaries.
Mark Williams, as cool and laid back as ever, John Bradford who seems to have been on every gig I've ever been to, apart from the ones when he wasn't, and Ken Marley on bass provided sound support.
Depping for Andy Champion is like asking someone to step in at the last moment to square up to Tyson Fury but Ken Marley was a knockout and Zoë's hubby may have to audition for her next gig (joke).
Good gig. Now let me read Midnight Bell again whilst the song/novel is in my mind! Lance
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