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Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, April 2025).

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

17957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 278 of them this year alone and, so far, 34 this month (April 14).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Only Six Standards.
Thu 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Fri 18: Alexia Gardner @ Fika Gallery, Oldgate, Morpeth NE61 1LT. 7:00pm. Trio (Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy).RESCHEDULED FOR JUNE 13

Fri 18: Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy: The Sisterhood @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. CANCELLED! 7:30pm (doors). £25.00.

Sat 19: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 19: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 19: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 20: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 20: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 20: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 21: Newcastle Record Fair @ Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle. 10:00am. Going in search of the Buddy Bolden cylinder…
Mon 21: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

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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