Jo Harrop (vcl), Paul Edis (pno), Mick Shoulder (bs), Adam Sinclair (dms).
My late arrival meant foregoing the food - my apologies to those of an epicurean bent looking to have their appetite whetted.
However, for gourmets of vocal jazz, this was a feast of Bacchanalian proportions!
What can I say other than that the lissome lady is 'A class act?' I'd never heard Jo live but knew of her through a friend as well as hearing whispers on the Jazz Grapevine. I was delighted to discover that she was as good as they all said she was.
Kicking off the second set (I couldn't make the first) with a slightly faster than usual They Can't Take That Away From Me she stamped her authority by negotiating the lyric without a safety net - try singing the title line, 'They can't take that away from me,' at speed, without swallowing your tongue!
Night and Day and There is no Greater Love - just a hint of Carmen McRae in the phrasing of the latter - followed by a couple of Billie Holiday numbers God Bless the Child and Fine and Mellow which kept the ball in play. Jo wailed like a Chicago blues mama on Mellow.
After some pre-intro searching for the key Paul gave a Bill Evans' type lead into Just One of Those Things and les tout ensemble swung like crazy. Every time We Say Goodbye, done as a duo, - just voice and keyboard - was magical.
Throughout, the trio had provided great backing with all three guys on form and the evening finished on a more contemporary note with I Just Want to be Free from the Bond film Quantum of Solace.
And then it was done.
I'd had a great evening listening to an extraordinary singer.
And that's not all. Look forward to Jerry's report on the first set plus more photos.
Well done Cherry Tree for such an inspired booking.
Lance.
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