Monday, March 28, 2022

Jo Harrop: “The Heart Wants” (2021/2022) CD Review

I know we’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, and perhaps the same goes for albums, but the cover of vocalist Jo Harrop’s new album, The Heart Wants, shows a stack of books, including Leonard Cohen’s Book Of Longing (though her copy has a different spine than mine), and that was enough for me to suspect I’d love this release. I wasn’t wrong. The album features mostly original material, co-written by Jo Harrop. A lot of talented musicians join her on various tracks, including Jamie McCredie on guitar, Hannah Vasanth on piano and organ, and Troy Miller on drums. The album was released in Europe last year, and is now getting a U.S. release. It is her second solo album, following Songs For The Late Hours. Between that earlier release and this new one came a duo album with Jamie McCredie titled Weathering The Storm. While those two releases focused on covers, this new album showcases her songwriting ability as well as her tremendous vocal talent.

The album opens with its title track, “The Heart Wants What The Heart Wants,” which has a sexy, bluesy vibe and features some cool work on piano. It feels like a standard, and maybe someday it will be. It was written by Jo Harrop and Hannah Vasanth. Here is a taste of the lyrics: “The heart wants what the heart wants/It doesn’t choose right from wrong/In the eye of the storm, in the eye of the storm/Nothing can be done/The heart believes what it needs to believe/She doesn’t care if she’s a fool.” This track also features John Spanyol on trombone, Andy Davies on trumpet, and Tony Kofi on saxophone. Oh yes, everything about this is just right. What a great opener. That’s followed by a song that is a standard, “All Too Soon,” written by Duke Ellington and Carl Sigman. Jo Harrop’s voice is so beautiful, so seductive, and is here supported by Christian McBride’s delicious work on bass.

In “Everything’s Changing,” Jo Harrop sings, “Everything’s changing/Some days it feels like we’ve lost control/I know, I know inside you feel like breaking/Don’t want to face the day alone/‘Cause everyone is changing.” This song can be a friend in these uncertain days when we look at the world and just don’t recognize it anymore, when it seems like a segment of the population must belong to some other species. This song is a friendly shoulder to cry on. Sometimes what we need from a song or a good book is to hear this very message: “Better days will come/You’re not alone.” This song was written by Jo Harrop, Natalie Williams, Sam Watts and Hannah Vasanth. It features some nice work on violin by Debs White and Dave Larkin, and on trumpet by Andy Davies. I also like that work by Nicky Brown on organ. Then on “I Think You’d Better Go,” her voice is supported by some sweet, cool work on guitar. That’s Jamie McCredie, who also co-wrote this song. “When I think of all the times that we almost kissed/And to think we could have made it so/I think you’d better go/It’s too late for the train/I have no coat for the rain.” That’s followed by “Wise Words,” which was written by Paul Edis, who plays piano on it. “Sometimes it feels like the world’s turned against you/Sometimes it feels like you’ve been here before/Sometimes it’s hard to explain what you’ve been through/Sometimes you’ll ask the world for more.” This is another song that most people will relate to immediately.

“Red Mary Janes & A Brand New Hat” is a fun one right from its start, and it features some excellent work by Jason Rebello on piano. Plus, these lyrics are appealing: “I’ll leave my troubles behind/Nothing’s going to stop me tonight.” Ah yes, don’t we all wish to leave our troubles behind and enjoy a night or two? And when that great bass line comes in, the song takes on a sexier tone and mood. “I’m going to whisper the blues right in your ear/Sing so softly only you can hear/And every word is meant just for you.” This is a delicious number. Jihad Darwish plays bass on this one. Jo Harrop has a seductive and romantic air as she begins the next track too, “Hold On,” which opens with the line “I’ve been waiting such a long time for you.” She delivers a soulful vocal performance, backed by some good work on both guitar and organ. Joe Rodwell plays trumpet on this one.

On “Life Inside,” Jo Harrop grabs us with the opening, heartbreaking lines: “You gave up on love/Though you crave it all the time.” And soon she tells us, “I’m on your side.” Sometimes that is all we need to hear from someone. Then nearly halfway through another voice joins hers, and it becomes a moving duet. That’s Marcus Bonfanti.  This is a beautiful song, one of my favorites. It was written by Jo Harrop, George Glew, Hannah Vasanth and Jamie McCredie. That’s followed by “What If,” which was co-written by Paul Edis. “What if our story finishes here/Would life go on?” “If I Knew” was also written by Jo Harrop and Paul Edis, and it features some beautiful work on strings, as well as a touching vocal performance. “If I knew that would be the last time/I would have tried to remember/The warmth of your hand/Your skin on mine/To touch you one last time/To say goodbye.”

Jo Harrop delivers a really good rendition of Tom Waits’ “Rainbow Sleeves,” a song that was recorded by Rickie Lee Jones and included on the King Of Comedy soundtrack in 1983. This track features some wonderful work by Sarah Bowler on cello. That’s followed by a cover of “If Ever I Would Leave You,” written by Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner. This version has some warm work on piano by Jason Rebello, including a beautiful and engaging solo in the second half. The album concludes with “Weather The Storm,” which is listed as a bonus track on the CD. There is a warmth to this track as well. “I bring out the worst in you/And you bring out the worst in me too/But still when we’re together/There’s nothing we can’t do.” This song was written by Jo Harrop, Natalie Williams, Jamie McCredie and Hannah Vasanth, and is a perfect conclusion to an excellent album.

CD Track List

  1. The Heart Wants What The Heart Wants
  2. All Too Soon
  3. Everything’s Changing
  4. I Think You’d Better Go
  5. Wise Words
  6. Red Mary Janes & A Brand New Hat
  7. Hold On
  8. Life Inside
  9. What If
  10. If I Knew
  11. Rainbow Sleeves
  12. If Ever I Would Leave You
  13. Weather The Storm

The Heart Wants is scheduled to be released on CD on April 25, 2022 on Lateralize Records.

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