Zoë Gilby at the Sunday Lounge

Well that was a delightful way of spending a cold grey November Sunday afternoon.

10 years in the planning and at the third attempt, the jazz singing star Zoë Kilby finally made it to the Hunter Club to give a concert.

"Based in the North East, Zoe was winner of the Parliamentary Jazz Award for Jazz Vocalist of the Year 2019. She is renowned for her creative approach to a wide range of material including interpretations of Thelonious Monk, Tom Harrell and Beatles compositions along with her own original material co-written with double bassist husband Andy Champion. With Chris Ingham (piano) and Andy Champion (double bass)."

Charming and unassuming, there was a lovely freshness about Zoë's performances. Her husband Andy was virtuosic on the double bass and Chris Ingham looked like he was loving accompanying them.

We were treated to a variety of songs, ranging from old classics to arrangements of Thelonius Monk and Tom Harrell, together with some of Zoë and Andy's own compositions and arrangements. With her gently lilting phrasing and crystal clear diction every song was a story.

I had a seat right at the front at the right hand side of the stage. Her are a few of my photos from my phone camera.

Chris introducing the concert.

The trio in action.

Zoë letting Chris and Andy do their solos.

Andy in action.

Zoë centre stage again.

During the interval I was able to have a bit of chat with Zoë, reminiscing about my time in the North East living in Whitley Bay, from where I used to visit the Corner House in Heaton for Jazz evenings. Probably before she was born! It turns out Zoë is from Cullercoats, just along the sea shore from where I lived. She and Andy now live south of the Tyne in Low Fell near Gateshead. She was pleased when I told her my favourite piece from the first set was her own composition Midnight Bell.

At the start of the second set Zoë and Andy did one of their duo pieces - Paul Simon's Graceland.

It sounds like an unlikely combination, but it works really well.

And then at the end, as an encore they did another, Tom Waits' Way Down in the Hole.

What a talented pair. I hope they had a good journey home after the concert.

Of course the live concert today wasn't recorded, but here are a few samples of the music we heard...

Zoë's composition Midnight Bell, which is inspired by Patrick Hamilton's trilogy 20,000 Streets Under the Sky, which her brother gave her when she was young.

Zoë and Andy performing Graceland...

Zoë and Andy performing Way Down in the Hole.

That was my favourite bit in the whole concert.

Thank-you Zoë, Andy and Chris for a great afternoon.