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Abbie Finn Trio @ Gosforth Civic Theatre - July 13

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

From the outside it resembled a building site. Actually, it is a building site! Inside it looked more like the familiar building we've come to know so well, Gosforth Civic Theatre. New flooring, level access throughout, an expanded bar area, a large skylight allowing the light to flood in, things they are a-changing on Regent Farm Road. It'll be sometime yet before the redevelopment works are finished, in the meantime, the events' programme is up and running. 

Press release: Gadd gets soulful with trio in Glasgow and Nottingham

(© Carsten Weide)

Blicher Hemmer Gadd, the trio that brings drumming legend Steve Gadd together with Danish saxophone and Hammond organ team, Michael Blicher and Dan Hemmer, return to the UK to play two dates in early September.

The gigs, at the Mackintosh Church in Glasgow on Friday, Sept.1 and Southbank Bar, Nottingham on Sunday, Sept. 3, coincide with the release of the trio’s fourth album, It Will Be Alright.

The trio joined forces in 2014 to celebrate their shared love of bluesy, Hammond-driven soul-jazz and have now played more than 50 concerts across the world, preferring to play intimate venues in contrast to Gadd’s normal itinerary of stadia and large concert halls with Eric Clapton, James Taylor and Paul Simon.

Album review: Atlanticus - Upstream

Terry Seabrook (Hammond); Peter Fraise (tenor sax); Jack Kendon (flumpet); Milo Fell (drums).

Organ combos rarely feature two horns out front. Usually its organ and drums augmented by either sax or guitar. However, Seabrook and his transatlantic co-writer Fraise opted for tenor sax and flumpet. For the uninformed (such as myself) a flumpet is an instrument that is part flugelhorn and part trumpet. You maybe  are thinking it is something that was created in Greek mythology but, in actual fact, it was invented by David Monette* in 1989 for Art Farmer and used on his recording Silk Road.

Farewell Tommy Graham...

They came, not to bury Tommy Graham, but to praise him. Many musicians and friends did just that.

The South Tyneside Crem, thankfully recently extended, was close to capacity as the Humanist Celebrant extolled the many aspects of Tommy's life.

However, the most touching moment came from another Tommy, Tommy Moran. Tommy Moran had been a longtime associate, both as a musician and as a friend, of  Tommy Graham and he spoke with barely concealed emotion about his loss.

Preview: The Abbie Finn Trio reopens Gosforth Civic Theatre tonight (Thursday)!!!

It's been closed for months for extensive redevelopment works. From the outside it doesn't quite look ready, however, this evening at half past seven, the doors to Gosforth Civic Theatre will once again be open to welcome gig-goers. And the honour of being the first to perform at the all-new venue goes to the Abbie Finn Trio. 

The award-winning Hit Like a Girl drummer Abbie Finn will be in concert with tenor saxophonist Harry Keeble and the redoubtable bassist Paul Grainger. Expect to hear tunes from the trio's recorded output and some new material. Buses from Haymarket or Metro to Regent Centre (on the Airport line) are a great option, setting down one minute's walk from the venue. Russell   

Press release: Lantern Jazz on the Terrace - The Abbie Finn Trio @ Newcastle Cathedral (formerly St. Nicholas). July 30 (2:00 pm - 3:00 pm)

Indulge in the relaxing sounds of jazz on the Eastern Terrace of Newcastle Cathedral on two delightful Sunday afternoons this summer.

The Abbie Finn Trio perform regularly around the North East and further afield. They have featured at Jazz in the Round at the Cockpit in London, Newcastle Jazz Festival, Manchester Jazz Festival, Hexham Jazz Festival, Jazz at the Lescar, Durham Jazz Festival, Band on the Wall, Middlesbrough Jazz Weekender and more. In the trio, drummer Abbie works with fellow Leeds College of Music alumnus, saxophonist Harry Keeble, and bass player Paul Grainger.

Album review: Anders Lønne Grønseth & Multiverse - Inner View

Anders Lønne Grønseth: (soprano, straight alto sax, tenor sax, clarinet); Hayden Powell (trumpet); Espen Berg (piano); Audun Ellingsen (bass); Einar Scheving(drums); David Skinner (Hohner pianet, clavinet).

This is the follow up to Grønseth/Multiverse’s first album (Outer View) for NXN which came out early last year. The NXN label is a part of Naxos, the label that has been releasing budget classical CDs since CDs started with only the occasional foray into jazz. (I have a Joe Temperley album, Double Duke, from 1999 on my shelves.) In 2019 Naxos created NXN to “put out interesting, innovative and original music that bends, explores and challenges the established genres……from neo-classical, ambient, jazz, contemporary music, and everything in between.……..releases have the recognisable 'Cool Nordic sound' in common.”

R.I.P. Laura Yates

Just received the sad news that Laura Yates passed away last month. Laura, wife of former Jazz North East secretary the late Chris Yates, was very supportive of her husband's commitment to presenting jazz in the area working selflessly behind the scenes whenever she was able to.

She had also been a prominent member of the local branch of the W.E.A. before ill-health curtailed her activities.

A requiem mass will be held at St Teresa's Church, Heaton Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 5HP at 10am on July 19 followed by a private burial, then a reception at 12 noon at the Blue Flames Sporting Club, Whitley Park, Whitley Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne NE12 9SF.

Laura Yates was 85.

Sadly missed, our condolences go out to family and friends - Rest In Peace. Lance

Wynton Marsalis @ Buxton Opera House - July 10

Wynton Marsalis (trumpet, vocals); Alan Barnes (alto sax, clarinet); Dan Higham (trombone); Joe Webb (piano); Will Sach (double bass); Will Cleasby (drums)

A first visit to the Peak District market town of Buxton. At more than 1000 feet above sea level the picturesque town is England's highest market town. On arrival, a local inhabitant said the place was 'quite hilly'. She wasn't wrong...

The purpose of BSH visiting the Derbyshire market town was to attend a late night Buxton Opera House concert featuring the great Wynton Marsalis. All seats were sold several months ago, perhaps the prospect of hearing Marsalis in small group format rather than the American's more usual Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra gig caught the imagination.