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