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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

17733 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 53 of them this year alone and, so far, 53 this month (Jan. 20).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Tue 21: ???

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free. Fortnightly.
Thu 23: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Obituaries 2024.
Thu 23: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:30-6:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 23: Pedal Point Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 24: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Lindisfarne Social Club, Wallsend. 9:00pm. Admission: TBC. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.

Sat 25: Boys of Brass @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 25: New '58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson's Wharf, Hartlepool. 6:30pm (doors). Free. A Burns' Night event. Jazz, swing, funk, soul, blues etc.
Sat 25: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 25: Jack & Jay’s Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Graham Hardy Eclectic Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 26: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:30pm. Free.
Sun 26: Gratkowski, Tramontana, Beresford, Affifi @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 28: ???

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 30: Matters Unknown (aka Jonathan Enser, Nubiyan Twist) + support TBA @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £12.22 (gig & food); £9:04 (gig only).
Thu 30: Soznak @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 30: Struggle Buggy @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Rhythm & blues.

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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