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.
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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