Album review: Jo Harrop & Paul Edis - When Winter Turns to Spring

Jo Harrop (vocals); Paul Edis (piano); Freddie Gavita (trumpet, flugelhorn); Emma Rawicz (tenor & soprano saxophones, flute, clarinet, bass clarinet); Rory Ingham (trombone); Jamie McCredie (guitar); Adam King (double bass); Peter Adam Hill (drums); Debs White (violin); Reiad Chibah (viola); Will Hillman (viola); Julia Graham (cello); Bryony James (cello)

Released last week, When Winter Turns to Spring by Jo Harrop and Paul Edis comprises eleven tracks, all sketching a keen sense of the changing seasons. The title track is one the listener will identify with: leaving behind the long, dark days of winter and looking forward with relish to the arrival of spring. 

All tracks, with the exception of A Child is Born (Thad Jones/Alec Wilder), Gustav Holst's In the Bleak Midwinter (arranged by Edis) and the Paul Edis and Kate Edis co-written Short Story, A Perfect Winter's Day and New Year, New Job are Harrop-Edis collaborations. It is likely Kate was the principal lyricist with the latter (New Year, New Job) a personal commentary on the Edis' pre-pandemic adventure of leaving their native north east of England to start a new life together in London.

Throughout the album's forty plus minutes, Jo Harrop's voice is rich, like a festive liqueur. Instantly recognisable, Harrop's aching vocals invite the listener to hang on every note, Edis' arrangements both compliment and enhance, and the inclusion of strings is a masterstroke, adding richly textured layers to several of the accomplished compositions. The various guests won't be unknown to those who have been following the fortunes of the principals: Freddie Gavita (trumpet and flugelhorn) is in great demand, working in numerous outfits, including Edis' new London-based sextet. Likewise, trombonist Rory Ingham, equally at home playing Dixieland numbers as he is in this contemporary setting and then there is the award-winning Emma Rawicz, here playing tenor and soprano saxophones, flute, clarinet and bass clarinet. 

Guitarist Jamie McCredie, another exiled northerner, is heard in fine form and on this Lateralize recording he takes the production, engineering and mixing credits. Add the bass and drums of Adam King and Peter Adam Hill, frequent collaborators with Harrop and Edis, and it all adds up to a fine debut duo release. Yes, it's Harrop and Edis' album, but it's much more, it's a fine ensemble recording. When Winter Turns to Spring (cat. no. LR015CD) is available from Lateralize Records. Russell