Bebop Spoken There

Dominick "Domo" Branch: ''Most people say drummers can't write, they're just time-keepers only beating on things. But I have a very musical brain.'' (DownBeat February, 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

18288 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 142 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Feb. 14), 42

From This Moment On ...

February

Fri 20: Alex Clarke w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT! Clarke w. Dean Stockdale, Mick Shoulder, Abbie Finn.
Fri 20: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 20: Squabble @ Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7:00pm. Steve Chambers (organ); Jude Murphy (double bass, vocals); Sid White (drums).
Fri 20: Jive Aces @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors).
Fri 20: Alex Clarke w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Clarke w. Dean Stockdale, Mick Shoulder, Abbie Finn.

Sat 21: ???

Sun 22: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 22: Joe Steels Group @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. A Blue Patch album tour.
Sun 22: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Harben Kay Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 23: Joe Steels Group @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. A Blue Patch album tour.
Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 24: Finn-Keeble Group @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00.
Tue 24: Liam Oliver & Shayo Oshodi @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 25: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 25: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 25: Geordie Jazz Jam @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Newcastle University jam session. All welcome.
Wed 25: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 26: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £6.50.
Thu 26: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00 adv.
Thu 26: Mick Cantwell Band @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Blues.

Fri 27: Joe Steels Group @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT! A Blue Patch album tour.
Fri 27: Alan Barnes w. Mick Shoulder Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Trio: Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 27: Radio Hito + Eddie Prévost, Silvain Schmid & Tom Wheatley @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £12.22., £10.10., £8.00.
Fri 27: Giacomo Smith w Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.
Fri 27: Alan Barnes w. Mick Shoulder Trio @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £15.00. Trio: Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).

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

Friday, January 13, 2023

Abbie Finn Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle - Jan 12

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

On Pink Lane is the new album by the Abbie Finn Trio and no better place to launch the CD than right here on Pink Lane. The old Jazz Cafe (now Prohibition Bar) is the place where Abbie didn't first meet Harry but did first meet Paul. Jam session MC, Paul Grainger, invited Abbie Finn to sit in, a while later Harry Keeble pitched up and a musical partnership was forged. Fast forward a few short years and here they were, with an album launch gig, on Pink Lane.

(© Ken Drew)
Northern Perspective introduced the trio to a wider jazz public, a second, three track recording, Abbie Finn Trio Live at the 2021 Newcastle Jazz Festival, emerged as a digital-only release, now we have On Pink Lane. Upstairs at Prohibition Bar, Abbie 'did the door', Harry sold raffle tickets, a typical DIY jazz gig. Abbie and the 'boys' would play all nine tracks from the new album (all nine written and arranged by A. Finn). The set list would almost exactly mirror the album's running order, the trio opening with North Sea Wind. An opening statement, then, within a few bars, Abbie, Harry and Paul were in a swing time groove, Harry quoting, albeit fleetingly, a GASbook/bop number. And onto the title track, On Pink Lane. First impressions? Another subtle swinger with some tremendous tenor saxophone playing by HK. Several numbers have been heard at gigs over the last twelve months or so - The Warren, Mirador de Los Paleos (PG bass solo), Big Old Spice Cabinet (blistering tenor sax) - and their familiarity did no harm, on the contrary. 

Second set notes read: 'A good tune' in reference to A Real Job (flowing, swinging, AF taking it out). The album's closing track - Jazz the Cat - closed the 'play through' element of the evening, notes reading: 'Blistering' (HK stands charged with peeling the paint!). A successful album launch, mission accomplished. Fortunately there was still time to revisit Northern Perspective. Three numbers - Umlazi Morning (comp. P. Grainger), Ginnungagap (comp. H. Keeble) and Abbie Finn's Walkabout (a touch of Sonny Rollins in Keeble's playing, bass man Grainger walking the trio through it) - sent us on our way with a keen North Sea wind (North Sea Wind!) blowing on Pink Lane. 

The Abbie Finn Trio will be out and about over the coming weeks and months. The Lescar in Sheffield is the next stop (Wednesday next week, Jan 18, if you're in that neck of the woods). Russell        
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