Bebop Spoken There

David Bailey (photographer): ''When I was 16 I wanted to look like Chet Baker. He was my idol - him and James Dean.'' (Talking Pictures documentary : Four beats to the bar and no cheating April, 2026)

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

18445 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 309 of them this year alone and, so far this month (April 20 ) 43,

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

From This Moment On

April

Thu 23: FILM: Big Mama Thornton: I Can’t Be Anyone But Me @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 6:15pm. Dir. Robert Clem (2025).
Thu 23: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 23: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 23: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra & Musicians Unlimited @ ARC, Stockton. 8:00pm. £19.00. inc. bf.

Fri 24: Noel Dennis Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. Dennis, Mark Willams, Andy Champion. SOLD OUT!
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Trio Grand @ Land of Oak & Iron, Winlaton. 6:00-9:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Ben Vince + The Exu @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £14.33., £11.16, £8.00. A ‘jazz adjacent’ gig!
Fri 24: Daniel John Martin w. Swing Manouche @ The Ship Isis, Sunderland. 7:30pm. £13.20 (inc. bf).
Sat 25: Giles Strong Quartet @ Hindmarsh Hall, Alnmouth. 7:30pm. CANCELLED!
Sat 25: Daniel John Martin w. Swing Manouche @ The Old Cinema Launderette, Durham. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £13.20 (inc. bf).
Sat 25: ‘Portrait in Evans’: Noa Levy & Alan Barnes w. Paul Edis Trio @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £24.00. Sage Two. ‘Portrait in Evans’. Levy, Barnes, Edis, Andy Champion & Steve Hanley.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 26: Daniel John Martin w. Swing Manouche @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 26: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Ni Maxine + Nauta @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £17.51., £14.33., £11.16.
Sun 26: Joe Steels @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free (donations direct to the musicians). Joe Steels & Friends.
Sun 26: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £16.00., £14.00., £7.00.

Mon 27: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 27: House of Blues @ the Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £7.00., £5.00. advance. A student-led jazz session. ‘House of Blues’ is, perhaps, a misnomer.
Mon 27: Littlewood Trio @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £10.00 + bf, £7.00. + bf.

Tue 28: Long/Remon/Zilker @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Tom Remon plays Irish folk!

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 29: Long/Remon/Zilker @ The Ship Isis, Sunderland. 7:00pm. £10.00. + £1.00. bf. Tom Remon plays Irish folk!
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Hackney Colliery Band @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. £25.00.

Saturday, September 28, 2024

Jo Harrop @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead - Sept. 27

© Ken Drew
Jo Harrop (vocals); Paul Edis (piano, keys); Mark Williams (guitar); Jihad Darwish (bass guitar); Peter Adam Hill (drums) + Jason Holcomb (trombone)

With circa half a dozen albums to her name there's no stopping the gal from Chester-le-Street. Each one different, ranging from covers of standards to her own original compositions often in conjunction with tonight's MD and fellow Cestrian, Paul Edis, both are currently making waves on the London scene.

Although last night's concert at the Glasshouse was basically aimed at promoting her latest album The Path of a Tear there were also selections from The Heart Wants; Weathering the Storm and When Winter Comes.

Edis, riding high after his barnstorming set with Paul Booth at Blaydon on Monday gone was, as always, the sublime accompanist and his duet, just piano and voice, with Jo on If Ever I Would Leave You, a pin-dropping moment - what am I saying? They all were! Certainly the title track of this latest album, another duet - this time with Mark Williams - was beyond description.

© Ken Drew
In between numbers Jo gave us lots of background info to each song including telling us of the effect (and inspiration) of composing during Covid as well as the nervous anticipation of a three day recording session in  Los Angeles with legendary producer Larry Klein.

Down in the engine room, Darwish and Hill - part of Jo's London band - slotted in fine although the balance didn't seem quite right in the first set in the second it was fine. Darwish, of course, is well remembered for a belter of a gig with the Jazz Defenders at Hoochie Coochie a while back.

When I Love I Love Deep involved the audience in a singalong. As of yet it hasn't been recorded. Maybe the audience was being auditioned for when it happens.

© Russell
As the evening drew to a close Jason Holcomb was called up from the audience to join Jo and blow his trombone, which he just happened to have with him, on Whiskey or the Truth (see photo).

Oh yes, I should also mention that, apart from the voice, Jo looked ab fab in a sparkly silver gown. Lance.

Beautiful Fools; Stay Here Tonight; Charade; The Heart Wants What the Heart Wants; Path of a Tear (duo with Mark); A Love Like This; Short Story; Everything’s Changing; Hurt; Traveling Light; Only Spring; You’ll Never be Lonely in Soho; Too Close to the Sun; If it Wasn’t For Bad; Life Inside; If Ever I Would Leave You (duo with Paul); When I Love I Love Deep; Whiskey or the Truth.

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