Jo Harrop: The Path of a Tear

The Path of a Tear from UK vocalist Jo Harrop contains eleven fine selections that tell tales of love and its vagaries and vulnerabilities. Opener "Beautiful Fools" is moderately-paced, a laid-back groove with a great deal of presence. Harrop dances across the poignant lyrics. Anthony Wilson delivers an appropriately tasty guitar solo. "Whiskey or the Truth," slow and soulful, has all the earmarks, phrasing and chord progression of a soulful country-gospel tune. There is imagery presented in both the title and lyrics. Harrop gives us the tune without syrup and with deep feel resonant of Etta James. An outstanding track all around including a perfectly-fitting guitar solo from Wilson. "A Love Like This," the third slower tune in a row, is minor, darker and seething with lost love dramatic overtones. Harrop is marvelously moody and deep here. The addition of B-3 in the mix adds drama. Leonard Cohen's "Traveling Light" has Harrop story-telling over another light rock bed. She's seductive here, for sure. The chorus with Harrop duetting with guitar is a fine arranging touch.

Harrop has attractive pipes and great vocal presence. She embraces rather than states lyrics and has a flair for the dramatic. She is pristine on pitch, diction and has fine interplay with phrasing and lyrics. Harrop's co-composed compositions here focus on the vicissitudes and vectors of love, love lost and of those left abandoned—yet with unquenched hope. Her contributing musicians, all outstanding L.A. players, frame her brilliantly throughout the session.

"The Path of a Tear" ("Le Chemin D'Une Larme") was co-composed by Harrop with French guitarist Greg Soussan. Slower and sequential in melodic line over acoustic guitar and rhythm, Harrop presents this one well while the overall presentation begs to be also delivered in French. "You'll Never Be Lonely in Soho" has Harrop "out there in the street." A nice production touch. The song is an inviting jazz waltz that also features an excellent piano solo from Jim Cox. It is a highlight track. "Too Close to the Sun," is slower over a light rock bed, Harrop tells of the doomed love flight. "Goodbye" is another lovely contemporary ballad. Wilson's solo and Cox's comping are marvelously appropriate. "Stay Here Tonight" wraps things up in a light rock mode.

The Path of a Tear is a well-performed album by an excellent vocalist/co-composer and her cadre. The album's eleven selections all validate that description.