Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 2025).

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

17719 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 39 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Jan. 15).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Wed 15: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 15: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 15: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 15: Hot Club of Heaton @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘third Wednesday in the month’ session. TBC.

Thu 16: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 17: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 17: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 17: Joe Steels Trio w. Graham Hardy @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. (inc. a welcome drink & table reservation). Book at: www.drinks@thepele.co.uk. A ‘Jazz at the Pele’ promotion.
Fri 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 18: Alter Ego + Jamie Toms/Graham Don Duo @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 18: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Repas 7 by Night, West St., Berwick TD15 1AS. 7:30pm. Free. Album launch gig.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 20: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 21: ???

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Friday, September 25, 2020

Abbie Finn Trio @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle - Sept. 24

Abbie Finn (drums); Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Paul Grainger (double bass)


A couple of years ago drummer Abbie Finn (Leeds College of Music/Trinity Laban graduate) and saxophonist Harry Keeble (Leeds College of Music graduate) joined forces with Tyneside based bassist Paul Grainger to play classic Modern/contemporary jazz charts alongside some original material. Six months ago a debut album and tour dates were announced then lockdown put things on the back burner.


Fast forward to late September, a rainy, autumnal evening. That first album is imminent and dates are in the diary. The first of them, at Gosforth Civic Theatre, attracted a select, socially distanced audience. It's a sign of the times when the musicians, just like members of the audience, are obliged to navigate a Covid-secure, one-way system throughout the premises wearing a face covering. As the lights dimmed a face mask hung from Paul Grainger's music stand...


Finn's North Meets South (Abbie is from 'up north', Harry from 'down south', perhaps that explains it!) opened the trio's one-set performance. Some musicians arrange a set list with great care. This was Abbie Finn saying: This is what we do! Following up with two bona fide classics - Seven Steps to Heaven (Grainger nailing Ron Carter's memorable bass figure) and Night and Day (a favourite tune of Keeble's, said Finn) - compared favourably with composer Finn's effort.

Due to a ten o'clock lockdown curfew being imposed on the venue this was to be an extended one-set performance. A brace of tunes illustrated the trio's depth of talent as composers: Grainger's Waltz for Tony then Keeble's Norse mythology-inspired Ginnungagap (no, me neither!). Keeble has previously spoken of his admiration for Michael Brecker, to your reviewer's ear there is Sonny Rollins in his playing. 

Chick Corea's Windows (a favourite number, said Finn) changed it up and Bernie's Tune changed it up again (more Rollins-esque tenor saxophone from Keeble) with Grainger's concise solo a particular highlight. Finn said of the latter number that she arranged it for big band at Leeds College of Music and here we were, just a few short years later, hearing it in trio format. 

Finn's Walkabout had a modern jazz feel to the head and, as it was her tune, she took a solo! The thought occurred that if Finn had been around in the days of the Jazz Couriers she could have got the call. Time was pressing; one or two gentle plugs for the new album - Northern Perspective, coming soon, watch this space - then the closer, Sonny Rollins' Oleo. All things considered, in these challenging times the Abbie Finn Trio got the autumn concert season off to a flyer.

No comments :

Blog Archive