Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

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

The Things They Say!

Hudson Music: Lance's "Bebop Spoken Here" is one of the heaviest and most influential jazz blogs in the UK.

Rupert Burley (Dynamic Agency): "BSH just goes from strength to strength".

'606' Club: "A toast to Lance Liddle of the terrific jazz blog 'Bebop Spoken Here'"

The Strictly Smokin' Big Band included Be Bop Spoken Here (sic) in their 5 Favourite Jazz Blogs.

Ann Braithwaite (Braithwaite & Katz Communications) You’re the BEST!

Holly Cooper, Mouthpiece Music: "Lance writes pull quotes like no one else!"

Simon Spillett: A lovely review from the dean of jazz bloggers, Lance Liddle...

Josh Weir: I love the writing on bebop spoken here... I think the work you are doing is amazing.

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

Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Mon 23: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 4:00pm. Free.
Mon 23: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Mon 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.

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.

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

Thursday, December 15, 2022

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 StoryA 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  

No comments :

Blog Archive