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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Tue 11: Steve Summers Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 12:30-1:30pm. £5.00. at the door. New second Friday in the month concert series.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Archipelago + Anna Tempest @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Fri 14: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 16: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: BBC Introducing NE X MOBO Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Jambone, Knats, Rivkala, SwanNek.
Sun 16: The Shayo Experience @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 16: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 16: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

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

Thursday, October 22, 2020

Album review: Abbie Finn Trio - Northern Perspective

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

In the midst of a once-in-a-lifetime global pandemic which has all but stopped the world spinning on its axis it's a brave move to release an album. In these less than conducive circumstances that's precisely what Abbie Finn has done. Drummer Abbie's trio recorded material at Blank Studios in Newcastle and previewed it at a recent gig at Gosforth Civic Theatre. Next week there will be an album launch gig at Prohibition Bar. 

Northern Perspective comprises ten tracks: five original compositions, five standards, each one to be filed under 'straight ahead'. Finn's Walkabout opens the album and bassist Paul Grainger's Umlazi Morning closes it. In between, tenor saxophonist Harry Keeble contributes Ginnungagap, Finn and Keeble co-wrote North Meets South (Abbie is from 'up north', Harry from 'down south') and Waltz for Tony is a trio composition.  Walkabout is best described as 'modern' jazz written from a twenty first century perspective with a post-bop, rhythmic swing feel. Ginnungagap is equally modernist, suggesting its composer, Keeble, has assimilated Coltrane, Rollins and Brecker into his sound. 

Finn, Keeble and Grainger have played the standards many times, not least at jam sessions. To place familiar tunes alongside less familiar original compositions is a good idea as it enables the listener to engage in a 'compare and contrast' exercise. The timeless numbers - Night and Day (Keeble particularly impressive), There Will Never be Another YouTangerine - are shown due respect which should make the listener all the more inclined to show due respect to the trio's accomplished compositions.

Northern Perspective will be available on Bandcamp from November 1. The Abbie Finn Trio will be at Prohibition Bar, Newcastle on October 29 and at Newcastle Jazz Co-op's Globe HQ on November 22. The Globe concert, with a socially distanced audience in attendance, will be live streamed to a worldwide audience. Northern Perspective was engineered, mixed and mastered by Adam Sinclair,  the CD cover artwork is by Abbie Finn and Lisa Keeble, photography by Carlo Viglianisi and Malcolm Sinclair. Copies of the CD will be available at both gigs.
Russell              

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