It had been a long while. The last time Opus 4 Jazz Club met must have been something like eighteen months ago. Concerts cancelled, concerts postponed, concerts rearranged, a nightmare for the promoter, not much fun for the many musicians scheduled to appear, and the audience deprived of its monthly modern jazz club session. Now, mid-September 2021, we're back at the Traveller's Rest in Cockerton, Darlington.
Not much had changed - many familiar faces sat at their usual tables, making frequent visits to the downstairs bar to replenish a glass - Ossett Brewery's Yorkshire Blonde - and MC Mr N Robinson introduced the band. This evening, Abbie Finn's Finntet. Now here's a thing, Abbie and the boys hit the ground running...Lester Left Town, Nutville and Dat Dere. That's the way to start a set, three bop classics one after the other! Drummer Abbie in Blakey mode, driving the band with unstinting energy and enthusiasm, the boys responded to the whip hand. The horns - Harry Keeble on tenor, Graham Hardy firing on trumpet - played a blinder. The rhythm section - Abbie, pianist Dean Stockdale, and the man at the back, bassist Paul Grainger - right on the money.
A couple of original
compositions - one from Keeble, one from Grainger - warranted their inclusion
in the set list alongside Ellis Marsalis' Swinging at the Haven and
a favourite of Mr Robinson, Dear Johnny B. The latter number being
Tubby Hayes' tribute to his former bandmate, EmCee 5 drummer Johnny Butts. It
had been a grand return here at the Traveller's Rest, next month, October 15,
it's the Sue Ferris Quintet.
(Photo courtesy of Peter Bevan)
Earlier in the week across town at the Forum Music Centre on Borough Road, Abbie Finn linked up with Rick Laughlin and co to play Acoustic Infusion's regular monthly gig. A busy girl is wor Abbie! Russell
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