Bebop Spoken There

Donovan Haffner ('Best Newcomer' 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards): ''I got into jazz the first time I picked up a saxophone!" - Jazzwise Dec 25/Jan 26

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

18146 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 24 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 7), 24

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Sat 10: Mark Toomey Quintet @ St Peter’s Church, Stockton-on-Tees. 7:30pm. £12.00. (inc. pie & peas). Tickets from: 07749 255038.

Sun 11: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 12: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Milne Glendinning Band @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 13: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 15: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Quartet + guest Paul Donnelly (guitar).

Fri 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 16: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 16: Darlington Big Band @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 16: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

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, March 15, 2022

Jo Harrop @ The Oxford Tavern, London - March 14

Jo Harrop (vocals); Jamie McCredie (guitar); Jihad Darwish (double bass); Peter Adam Hill (drums) + Paul Edis (piano)

Jo Harrop is riding the crest of a wave. Weathering the Storm, her duo album with guitarist Jamie McCredie, garnered rave reviews (one critic describing it as 'perfect') and her latest recording, The Heart Wants, is making a big impact. An upcoming vinyl album launch gig at Ronnie Scott's plus a string of tour dates suggest our County Durham raised, London resident vocalist's star is in the ascendant. This evening at the Oxford Tavern in Kentish Town Harrop brought in the A-Team.

You'd be so nice to come home to sang Harrop. Great! And what a band! Richard Rodgers' Lover followed by Early Autumn from Weathering the Storm, Jo Harrop's ear for a good tune is an invaluable asset and her 'late-night' vocal style never fails to draw in the listener. Throw in a dirty blues from Bessie Smith (Need a Little Sugar in My Bowl) and a swinging Too Close for Comfort and our girl from 'up north' had 'em wrapped around her little finger.

Harrop regularly works with bassist Jihad Darwish (our man has 'up north' connections) and drummer Peter Adam Hill. These guys are the business, no question. Jamie McCredie is an amazing guitarist, as fluent as any six-stringer, ideas tumbling forth (he too hails from the north east of England) and Harrop's special guest on this Monday evening gig, pianist Paul Edis, is another who upped sticks from Tyneside, making London his home. 

Hill featured on Just One of Those Things, Harrop and Darwish alone together on Elvis Costello's Almost Blue will live long in the memory, Everything's Changing from the new album, all five musicians on the stand were on top form. Lerner and Loewe's Wouldn't it be Loverly (from My Fair Lady), Guilty (plucked from the early thirties), Jo Harrop (and band) made this a night to remember. 

In addition to her upcoming album launch on Frith Street (April 25) Jo Harrop has a string of dates lined-up, one of them is sure to be near you. Do yourself a favour, go hear a singer at the top of her game. Russell
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