Fleece Jazz presents: The Jo Harrop Quartet

Event information

“A rare mix of delicacy and boldness. Sheer perfection.” The Guardian

Effortlessly blurring the lines between jazz and blues, Jo Harrop is renowned for her achingly beautiful music, so shot through with pathos and pain, it could melt the hardest of hearts. Her warm, smoky voice is capable of the most delicate dynamics.

Originally from the Northeast of England, now based in London, Jo has graced some of the world's most prestigious stages worldwide. Her influences are steeped in jazz, blues and soul, with flavours of Americana, folk and Latin music running throughout. She is a jazz singer and song stylist, with an intimate, smoky, bluesy tone. Beyond the mellifluous perfection of her voice, there is always a beautifully bruised intimacy at the very heart of her music. She has received rapturous reviews for her first four albums: When Winter Turns To Spring won album of the year at the 2023 Parliamentary Jazz Awards, while The Path Of A Tear received multiple four and five-star reviews across the world. She was chosen to support Gregory Porter’s 13-date UK Tour, including 4 nights at London's Royal Albert Hall.

Few artists can convey the depth of emotion Jo evokes every time she opens her heart to sing. Anyone who hears her music knows exactly how she feels; the smouldering sadness flowing through her voice speaks for itself.

Paul Edis works regularly with vocalist Jo Harrop, as a composer and arranger and as a pianist. Their album ‘When Winter Turns to Spring’ which was described as “a perfect blend of originals and timeless perennials framed by Paul Edis’ ear-catching yet elegant arrangements” won Best Album at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2023.  Jazz Journal described Edis as “a major voice in British Jazz, an incredibly fertile composer and improviser”

Mirko Scarcia is a double bassist and bass guitarist with over two decades of performance experience. He has worked with high profile musicians and producers in a variety of genres including jazz, pop, rock, and classical music, with the primary focus on jazz/improvised music.

Darren Beckett won a prestigious Bass Ireland Award as a teenager, leaving the Emerald Isle to study jazz in New York, where he resided for 21 years. Across his career, he has played drums everywhere from Carnegie Hall to the Royal Albert Hall. Darren has performed on over 50 albums with notable names like Lee Konitz, James Williams, Brandon Flowers, Madeleine Peyroux, and Kenny Wheeler, George Colligan, and Daniel Lanois.

“Harrop’s appeal is in her seductive mannerisms and phrasing mixed with plenty of hip cachet. As an interpreter of lyrics, she draws you into the narrative with effortless style and ease. The voice is husky toned, with immaculate timing and an unsentimental tenderness and a shrewd wit.” Emrys Baird, Blues & Soul Magazine.