Jo Harman - Hebden Bridge Blues Festival 2013
The Hebden Chapel was the perfect venue for headliner Jo Harman. Bestriding the stage, in front of the pulpit, she took ownership of the place and her Congregation just lapped it up.
The exciting thing about this singer is not just the sheer power and quality of her voice but the manner in which she uses it. Whatever the number - and the set contained a vast range of material - she brought to it all the subtleties and nuances that only a fine and accomplished artist can. Deep and heart-felt soul with drawn-out and movingly sustained power, stomping bluesy up-beat, the sparse and tender phrasing and even swinging jazz phrase elision were all perfectly pitched for the evening. The audience jumped from whooping and hollering to leaning forward and hanging on every word - and back again.
Although Jo is apparently lining up big audience venues, it seems to The Hat at least that this kind of gig - where she could almost touch the audience vocally - shows all her strengths and talents at their very best. Her involvement with her songs, as she is singing them, is tangible and her knowledgeable audience knew and understood that. Surrounded by a band of superbly professional and understated musicians who complemented her perfectly, Jo delivered a true Headliner's set.
Showing posts with label jo harman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jo harman. Show all posts
14 Dec 2015
Jo Harman: Found A Place
Jo Harman: Found A Place
You would need to have a heart made of reinforced concrete not to be totally entranced and taken over by this stunning new piece of work from Jo Harman.
An EP entitled 'Found A Place', it apparently started out as something of a studio experiment, but developed into a fans only 'thank-you' album to those who have loyally followed this exceptional singer from her first ventures, club and festival gigs, through her majestic debut album 'Dirt On My Tongue' and now as she prepares for a follow-up to be be recorded stateside next year.
This is a beautifully produced stripped-back affair where Jo's close-up voice (the production is such that you can almost touch the breathing and phrasing) clutches you from the very first note of the very first poignant track 'Lend Me Your Love' and will not let go until the fade of the last number. If you have ever been lucky enough to have seen Jo live you will know how demonstrative she is on stage. I saw her many years ago totally absorbing the high vaulted acoustics of an old chapel like a lightning conductor – so to be able to retain that electric magic in a studio, as she does, is a sure sign of the emotional power of her distinctive voice.
Jo has always been surrounded by top class musicians and one of the things that make this album so impressive is the way their classy presence - particularly the oh-so-delicate piano (Mark Edwards) and string arrangements – is so beautifully dovetailed into the songs that they are barely noticeable. In consequence, the voice, quite rightly, has nowhere to hide. One of the covers on the album, Jo's absolutely heart-breaking rendition of the Michael McDonald song 'I Can Let Go Now' is a fine example of the subtlety of the accompaniments, even when she is reaching out with increased volume and passion. This track alone would make a best-selling single but everything on here is a fabulous demonstration of her ability to get right to the core of a song and imbue it with her own distinctive magic.
I don't care if Jo sings the blues or ballads or boogies to some swing. What has become clear over the years is that her voice is an extraordinary, unique, powerful and emotional blessing. It is obvious that she totally engages with her material, wherever it comes from – and if you get this album, I guarantee you will find it difficult not to take that emotive journey with her. A wonderful piece of world class artistry.
You would need to have a heart made of reinforced concrete not to be totally entranced and taken over by this stunning new piece of work from Jo Harman.
An EP entitled 'Found A Place', it apparently started out as something of a studio experiment, but developed into a fans only 'thank-you' album to those who have loyally followed this exceptional singer from her first ventures, club and festival gigs, through her majestic debut album 'Dirt On My Tongue' and now as she prepares for a follow-up to be be recorded stateside next year.
This is a beautifully produced stripped-back affair where Jo's close-up voice (the production is such that you can almost touch the breathing and phrasing) clutches you from the very first note of the very first poignant track 'Lend Me Your Love' and will not let go until the fade of the last number. If you have ever been lucky enough to have seen Jo live you will know how demonstrative she is on stage. I saw her many years ago totally absorbing the high vaulted acoustics of an old chapel like a lightning conductor – so to be able to retain that electric magic in a studio, as she does, is a sure sign of the emotional power of her distinctive voice.
Jo has always been surrounded by top class musicians and one of the things that make this album so impressive is the way their classy presence - particularly the oh-so-delicate piano (Mark Edwards) and string arrangements – is so beautifully dovetailed into the songs that they are barely noticeable. In consequence, the voice, quite rightly, has nowhere to hide. One of the covers on the album, Jo's absolutely heart-breaking rendition of the Michael McDonald song 'I Can Let Go Now' is a fine example of the subtlety of the accompaniments, even when she is reaching out with increased volume and passion. This track alone would make a best-selling single but everything on here is a fabulous demonstration of her ability to get right to the core of a song and imbue it with her own distinctive magic.
I don't care if Jo sings the blues or ballads or boogies to some swing. What has become clear over the years is that her voice is an extraordinary, unique, powerful and emotional blessing. It is obvious that she totally engages with her material, wherever it comes from – and if you get this album, I guarantee you will find it difficult not to take that emotive journey with her. A wonderful piece of world class artistry.
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