A Jazzy Christmas at The Glasshouse | Gig Preview

Jo Harrop, Paul Edis and friends bring A Jazzy Christmas back to The Glasshouse in Gateshead on Saturday 19 December 2026, marking ten years of a festive show that reshapes seasonal favourites through jazz. Edis leads the arrangements from the piano, while Harrop’s voice sits at the centre of a nine-piece band moving between swinging big-band passages, sambas and more intimate moments.

The long-running format works because it treats the songs as material to arrange rather than simply reproducing familiar Christmas versions. That gives the musicians room to bring their own character to the set while keeping enough of the melodies intact for the evening to retain its festive feel.

A Jazzy Christmas at The Glasshouse

Reaching a tenth anniversary gives this year’s performance extra significance, particularly with North East pianist and composer Paul Edis once again shaping the musical direction. His arrangements provide the link between the different styles in the programme, while Harrop’s vocal approach can move from understated balladry into the larger ensemble sections without the show becoming overly polished.

The nine-piece setup also makes this one of the fuller-sounding dates in the jazz season. Rather than a small-club Christmas set, the concert is built to use the scale of The Glasshouse while keeping the warmth and spontaneity that have helped it become a recurring part of the venue’s December programme.

Event details

• Date: Saturday 19 December 2026
• Venue: The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Gateshead

Tickets and the latest information are available from The Glasshouse’s official event page. Check the venue listing before travelling for final timings and any updates.

More seasonal and year-round shows are covered in SoundBite’s Gateshead gig previews.