Zoe Gilby

Gateshead

“A mix of intelligent original songs and innovative arrangements of tunes by both jazz and pop composers. It’s the quality of the original songs that make this jazz vocal album stand out from the pack.” The Jazz Mann Album: Twelve Stories “Spirited songs with a certain gritty personality poking through.” Marlbank Album: Twelve Stories “Deserves wider recognition and a major record deal. An excellent CD.” Courtney Pine BBC Radio 2 Album: Now That I am Real “A Wonderful CD” Sheila Jordan Album: Looking Glass Zoë Gilby is a UK jazz vocalist and songwriter that has been making a real impression on the jazz scene today. A constantly expanding repertoire that starts with her compelling original compositions written with double bassist husband Andy Champion and performed by her highly accomplished band, which features guitarist Mark Williams and drummer Richard Brown. Her stockpile of music also reaches a wide range of more contemporary material from composers such as Pink Floyd through to Kate Bush. Also included in her varied programme are some superb interpretations of “The Great American Songbook” Her influences are many and include Carmen McRae, Nancy Wilson, Sheila Jordan and Roberta Gambarini. For her original pieces Zoë finds much of her creative inspiration from songwriters as diverse as Kate Bush to David Frishberg. Zoe is well deserving of the respect that she has been receiving from many leading jazz instrumentalists and publications. She has received touring support from Jazz Services and has performed with some of the UK top jazz musicians, including Louis Stewart, Jim Mullen Organ Trio, Dave Newton, Alan Barnes and Tony Faulkner. Touring the UK and Europe with her exceptional quartet, she has performed at prominent jazz festivals and venues (see Gig Dates) In December 2013 “Twelve Stories” was released, a powerful collection of songs with a strong narrative, delivered with a commanding mix of musical sophistication and dramatic edge. The original material composed by Zoe Gilby, her husband and Double Bassist Andy Champion and Guitarist Mark Williams, is an engaging repertoire of story telling and atmosphere. The contemporary covers are an adventurous blend and the sensitive treatment to a couple of jazz standards, completes this particular “story-book” Spring 2010 Zoë recorded “Looking Glass” on the jazzaction label, featuring her quintet On the album the composers range from Ellington to Tom Waits to originals from Zoë and Andy Champion. This is “The Great American Songbook” and beyond …… Zoë’s interest in singing and jazz took shape at an early age. Zoë’s father, Mike Gilby worked professionally as a jazz trumpet player and arranger for over 40 years. She studied music for two years at Newcastle College and later developed her sound at Fionna Duncan’s Vocal Jazz Workshop in Glasgow. In Jan 2007, Zoë recorded her debut album ‘Now That I am Real‘ with arrangements by the renowned drummer Tony Faulkner. This album has received radio play from Courtney Pine’s Jazz Crusade on BBC Radio 2, Spain, UK, Australia, U.S.A, Belgium, and France and from BBC Radio Ulster in Northern Ireland. Zoë has teamed up with her husband, the innovative and powerful double bassist Andy Champion for a voice and double bass duo. Inspired by the legendary Sheila Jordan, this exciting project has been taking audiences by storm throughout the UK and Europe and highlights her ingenuity in interpreting a lyric.