Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise September, 2026)

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

18897 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 761 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 11.) 40.

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

From This Moment On

September.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 17: Front Porch Blues @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 17: Amphitrio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £7.00. Andrei Petrache (piano); Mike Alex (double bass); Philip Goron (drums).
Thu 17: Miles 100 @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. Jack Courtney (trumpet); Sue Ferris (tenor sax); Tom Atkinson (guitar); Alan Law (piano); Deon Krishnan (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums). A night of Miles Davis.
Thu 24: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free. .

Fri 18: Danny Lownes’ Hot Club @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Mark Williams Trio @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 18: Emma Fisk’s Hot Club du Nord @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £10.00., £5.00. student.
Fri 18: Rivkala + Beccy Sloan @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £10.00.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.
Sat 19: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-5:00pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner: Nina Simone. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 19: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.

Sun 20: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 20: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.

Mon 21: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 21: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Coltrane centenary.

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

Abbie Finn Trio @ Holy GrAle, Durham - Feb. 21

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

Hot on the heels of a sold out performance at the Lit & Phil in Newcastle, this evening here at Durham's Holy GrAle micro pub the Abbie Finn Trio reprised much of the material heard in the Loftus Room last week. The brick-lined cellar on Crossgate is best described as 'snug'. It's doubtful a cat has ever been successfully swung in the intimate space, however, drummer Abbie, tenor saxophonist Harry Keeble and bassist Paul Grainger ensured it - the music - swung from the down beat.     

Joe Henderson's Recorda Me, a likely favourite of Keeble's, introduced the trio to the (few) new faces there to hear two sets of straight ahead to contemporary jazz. The familiar faces present had a good idea of what to expect as Keeble developed a taut, Brecker-like tenor solo. Over Keeble's right shoulder stood Mr PG, bassist Paul Grainger, with little in the way of headroom to spare, bandleader Finn's kit squeezed into the far corner. Cuts from Northern Perspective, the trio's debut album, were interspersed with new material (premiered at the Lit & Phil) and a standard or two. Nothing Personal flew (Keeble embracing Brecker and Trane), Keeble an increasingly distinctive voice on the scene. Caravan featured more of Keeble and a top notch solo from Finn. 

Body and Soul is a tune we've heard countless times. The trio's take on Johnny Green's number offered a slightly different perspective thanks to Keeble exploring its harmonic structure. Second Skin was getting a second outing following last week's premiere performance. It didn't have a title last week, PG suggested Nuevo Pieles, this evening, as Finn revealed her kit had new skins, it went by the name of Second Skin. Next time (Jazz Co-op, Sunday 27 Feb) it could have another title! To close the set, Abbie and the boys went out on Irving Berlin's Remember. A good session.  Russell           

Set list: Recorda Me; Windows; Mirador de los Poleos; Nothing Personal; The Warren; Tangerine; Caravan; My Shining Hour; Body and Soul; Second Skin (aka Nuevo Pieles); Masca; Remember.
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