(Report by Russell)
Durham County Youth Big Band to Leeds College of Music to NYJO Academy Big Band to Trinity Laban, drummer Abbie Finn first emerged as a contender at the wonderful Great North Big Band Jazz Festival. A few short years later Abbie has recently graduated from Leeds College of Music with a 1st Class Honours Degree. A teenage award winner at the GNBBJF in Sunderland, Abbie went on to form college bands (gigging on home turf in Darlington, most recently with a quartet at this year’s Darlington Jazz Festival), working with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra’s Academy Big Band, and now, as a graduate, is to embark upon further study at London’s prestigious Trinity Laban.
Abbie is also a shining example of the invaluable work of Durham Music Service. Publicly funded, staffed by dedicated tutors, the county-wide organisation continues to encourage and develop the musicians of tomorrow. Darlington Jazz Club offered (insisted!) Abbie (and others) the opportunity to ‘do the door’, run the raffle, and, crucially, sit-in with senior musicians. Regulars gave unstinting support, some loaning countless CDs – an informal education, as it were!
Abbie Finn and her alto saxophonist friend Beth Roberts turned up at the Jazz Café’s jam session. The standard at the first and third Tuesdays in the month session is exceptionally high. Abbie and Beth more than held their own. The house rhythm section was so impressed phone numbers were exchanged and in due course Abbie got the call to dep on a session. The north east is fortunate in having many top class drummers working in the region and beyond. Abbie Finn is one of them. The Jazz Café has two more jam sessions before shutting up shop for its annual summer break. Abbie and Beth may well put in an appearance (Tuesday 18 July and/or Tuesday 1 August) and if they do you really should be there!
Russell.
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