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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 2024).

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

17630 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 904 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (Dec. 20).

From This Moment On ...

December

Tue 24: Lindsay Hannon & Mark Williams @ Ernest, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 11:00am-1:00pm. Free.
Tue 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.

Wed 25: Wot? No jazz!

Thu 26: The Boneshakers @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. The 17th annual Boneshakers’ Shindig.

Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free. Business as usual!.
Fri 27: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 27: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sat 28: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 11:30am. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 28: Fri 20: Castillo Nuevo @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 28: Jude Murphy, Rich Herdman & Giles Strong @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 28: Ray Stubbs R & B All-Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Stepney Bank, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

Sun 29: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 29: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 30: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Tuesday, October 05, 2021

Album review: Jo Harrop - The Heart Wants

The northeast's favourite expatriate songstress has come up with another winner, this time an album of mainly self-penned lyrics set to music by an assortment of musicians including Paul Edis - another musician not unknown in these parts. 

I've been waxing eloquent about the quantity and quality of vocal albums released this year and The Heart Wants is way up there with the best of them.

Jo's previous albums have been with small groups or, in the case of her last one, Weathering the Storm, as a duo with guitarist Jamie McCredie. The title track of that album is included here as a bonus track but, unlike the original, this time there is a 21-strong backing choir containing just about any singer of note who was in town (or online?) at the time.

The lyrics on all of the songs are meaningful and full of emotion, sentiments that are conveyed expressively whether it be an original by Jo or Duke's All Too Soon.

The musicians too are world class - so many that, rather than spending an hour typing out all of the names, I've took the easy way out and scanned the album booklet. I mean who wants to beaver away at a QWERTY keyboard when there is so much great music being sung and played?

Jo's smoky sound on the opening The Heart Wants What the Heart Wants along with some searing trumpet from Andy Davies creates the same empathy that Peggy Lee and Conte Candoli achieved on their legendary Black Coffee album - this is in that league.

I could write about this one forever - it's a milestone in jazz singing - but I just want to listen to it forever or at least until her next album - Lance

Jo Harrop - The Heart Wants will be released by Lateralize Records on Friday October 8 on limited edition heavyweight vinyl and CD.

Jo will also be performing songs from the album at Cadogan Hall on November 5.

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