The Abbie Finn Trio @ The Blues, Jazz & Swing Festival. The Exchange, North Shields - July 3

(© the Exchange)

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

Moving from the Exchange's cafe/bar into the auditorium in good time to hear the Abbie Finn Trio, a cabaret table style layout ensured the welcome air of informality evident in the bar area during Ruth Lambert's set would extend to the larger space. It struck your reviewer the room was well lit. As soon as drummer Finn took to the stage the sound suggested an engineer was on the case. Looking around, a bod armed with nothing more than an iPad was doing the business.

(© the Exchange)

The Abbie Finn Trio will be in the recording studio in the near future and this festival engagement provided the opportunity to play some new material (material which is likely to make the cut on the trio's second album). Jazz the Cat (a brand new Finn composition) opened the show, The Warren (another new, but not quite so new number, followed) and So It's True (brand new and 'funky'; said Finn), the AF3 is a well-oiled unit. Off to Finn's left, Mr PG, the redoubtable Paul Grainger (bass) and between the two, Harry Keeble. There's no doubt about it, on each successive hearing, tenor saxophonist Keeble is getting better and better. There's a growing confidence, an assuredness in his playing, a touch of Brecker, a touch of Shorter and a large helping of H. Keeble.

Finn informed the audience of PG's culinary skills, not least in conjuring up tasty Indian cuisine. A kitchen stocked with spices inspired Finn to write, wait for it...Big Old Spice Cabinet. On this number HK dined like a king, knocking out a tremendous solo. On the evidence of this performance the trio's forthcoming album promises to be something special. Russell