Jo Harrop & Jamie McCredie @ The Lit & Phil - Nov 15

 Jo Harrop (vocals); Jamie McCredie (guitar)

(Review by Russell)

Over the last decade or so, Jo Harrop has been a frequent visitor to her native north east to perform intimate duo gigs to large scale concert engagements. In contrast, Jamie McCredie hasn't played a jazz gig on home turf during that time. Vocalist Jo and guitarist Jamie live and work in London and this Lit & Phil lunchtime engagement was a first opportunity for a Tyneside audience to hear them working as a duo.

The one o'clock, one hour set turned out to be one of those 'extra seating' gigs such was the demand to catch Jo and Jamie's performance. A list of no fewer than fifteen tunes to work their way through, it was unlikely that all of them would make the cut. Old Devil Moon for starters - perfect, Jo sensational as always, Jamie outstanding. Ten years on, just how good was/is Jamie? We remembered him as a fine guitarist, perhaps we forgot/didn't take into account how much better he'd become over the last decade. 

Tenderly, You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To, the Ralph Burns/Woody Herman (Johnny Mercer lyrics) seasonally apposite Early Autumn, each and every number Jo pitch-perfect, Jamie endlessly inventive, the Lit & Phil audience attuned to every subtle shift, every nuance. 

Jobim's Once I Loved temporarily lifted the autumn gloom before we got to the heart of Jo and Jamie's set. Two numbers - Ain't Got Nothin' but the Blues followed by In the Wee Small Hours (David Mann/Bob Hilliard) - were as good as you'll hear. Jo can sing a blues, Jamie can play a blues - superb stuff. And then In the Wee Small Hours - Jo told the story of David Mann's son hearing Jo and Jamie perform the song and getting in touch to say his father would have loved their version. How good is that?!

Sure enough, time was pressing and one or two numbers fell by the wayside. Tom Waits' Take it with Me was retained, similarly What a Little Moonlight Can Do (with some rather shy audience participation). At five minutes to two our duo signed off with Victor Young's My Foolish Heart. If the art of jazz singing and immaculate jazz guitar playing is remotely your thing then do yourself a favour - the next time Jo Harrop and Jamie McCredie are in town make sure you're there, you'll be in for a treat.

If you're quick you could catch them tonight at Holy GrAle on Crossgate Durham. It's a 7:30pm start, eight pounds on the door. Please note the basement venue is on the small side, arrive in good time or you won't get in!    

Russell