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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

17680 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 23 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Jan. 9).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Mon 13: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 13: Raymond MacDonald & Andy Champion @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

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 @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £TBC.
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: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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

Saturday, September 18, 2021

Abbie Finn's Finntet @ Opus 4 Jazz Club - September 17

Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Graham Hardy (trumpet); Dean Stockdale (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums)

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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