Jo Harrop's Backstage Banter
Jo Harrop has firmly established herself as one of the most distinctive singer songwriters in British jazz. In Jo Harrop’s Backstage Banter, Jo spills the beans on her favourite artists, what she’s listening to and her pre-gig tipple! 
Jo is an award-winning recording artist whose latest album, The Path of a Tear, has garnered much critical acclaim. She wowed a sell-out Jazz Jurassica audience in November 2024. We hope she comes back soon!
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Which living musician do you most admire?
Someone who believed in me from the very start, who taught himself to play but is always first to arrive to the gig, and would be practicing backstage before everyone else arrived. Always dressed sharply, always has a smile and a great attitude and plays his absolute best performance on every single gig be it Ronnie Scott’s or the local pub, is saxophonist, Tony Kofi. He has always inspired me and taught me so much how to conduct yourself and be on top of your game always.
Which musicians have influenced you the most?
The list is TOO LONG ! I will stick to singers or we’ll be here forever….
From the past – Aretha Franklin, Sarah Vaughan, & Nina Simone.
Now: Beth Hart, Lady Blackbird, Liane Carroll
And songwriters who tell stories, such as Tom Waits, Sting, Bonnie Raitt, Carole King.
Contemporary players like my co-writers, Paul Edis, Sam Watts, Jamie McCredie, Marcus Bonfanti – my band
If you could bring one musician back to life, who would it be?
Tony Bennett because we never got to do that duet that I have on my bucket list!
Musically, what are you most proud of?
I am most proud of a little album that I made in 2019 released in 2020 with my right hand man and one of the most beautiful human beings and greatest musicians that I know, Jamie McCredie. We made a duets album, called Weathering The Storm, and it is where I found my voice. We released it in lockdown and it received a 4 star review in The Guardian and Iggy Pop played it, as did Jo Whiley. I think I was at my happiest ever and it inspired me to start to write songs for my next album, The Heart Wants.
What’s been your worst gig to date, and why? And the best?
My worst gig was probably for something outside in the freezing rain where no one was listening but there is a funny story about strange gigs – I played in a posh event where the lady off the house requested ‘East Of The Sun’ every time she entered the room, and wanted the volume on the keyboard so low it was pretty much off, so we didn’t disturb her guests with the sound.
Best gig – well, Jazz Jurassica, of course!!! 😉
I will also say Dizzys at The Lincoln Centre New York too because the backdrop is Central Park and it is NEW YORK!!!!
Have you a special pre-gig routine?
Red wine!
Describe yourself musically in three words
Soulful, heartfelt, honest
What’s your greatest fear as a musician?
To lose my voice
How would you like to be remembered as an artist?
As a timeless songwriter, a storyteller, a singer who moved people and made them feel. Touched their hearts. Maybe even made a difference to peoples lives with my music.
What’s the most important lesson music’s taught you?
How powerful it is. Just how deeply it reaches people and that it can save a life.
What are you listening to right now?
The last 5 albums on my playlist were: Lady Blackbird, Lorez Alexandria, John Martyn, Lewis Taylor and Beth Hart
Who was the last musician you paid to see live - and when?
Sarah Jane Morris at Ronnie Scotts in November, Brilliant show!!