I arrived late, having failed to spot the venue from the road and found traffic wardens menacing all the musicians’ cars outside. Welcome to Whitley Bay! Sadly, Paul had been ticketed before I could get the keys and move his car and I missed more of the set before catching the last few bars of Black Orpheus. I enjoyed all of Waltz and Three Funked Mice as well as Part Three of Paul’s suite entitled It’s Behind You. An impromptu burst of Happy Birthday To You (for the trombonist, Chris Hibberd) got such generous applause that Paul is planning to include it at all future gigs! The set concluded with the barnstorming Big Jug Blues, to more generous applause from an appreciative audience.
Next up was Zoe Gilby who took us through several well-known numbers such as I'm Beginning to See the Light and I Only Have Eyes For You, with arrangements and delivery which made them fresh and interesting, as well as originals from the Gilby/Champion songbook (soon to be Champion/Champion!) such as Your Words. Zoe also treated us to a sung “thank you…and don’t forget to come to the evening gig, after the football” which was both ingenious and tuneful.
All were eclipsed by a sizzling Peggy Lee number, Some Cats Know, where the “knowledge” in question was clearly more carnal than academic! After which, sadly, I had to leave for fear that the jobsworths would get me for overstaying in the car-park.
Welcome to Whitley Bay!
Jerry E.
Friends of mine spent £60 on tickets for a concert at The Sage then came out and found themselves hit with a £50 ticket reduced to £25 for prompt payment.
ReplyDeleteRegarding The Boardwalk sessions on Sunday afternoon. We totally endorse everything written by Jerry E. The Paul Edis Sextet was a great opener and Zoe had me wiping a tear at one moment and well the rest can be left to my imagination. She deserves to be a Champion!!(Sorry about that) The backing was as ever excellent.
ReplyDeleteHowever it was a pity Jerry E. had to leave before the Alter Ego set(blame the traffic warden) he would have loved it I feel sure as they rounded off the session in fine style. Some very lively solos and as a group the sound was great, we could have listened for another hour.
Thank you Zoe and the team for organising such a splended day we don't normally wish our time away but roll on September and more Jazz at The Bridge.
Jay & Kay.