1. Your new album is called On Pink Lane inspired by the famous street in Newcastle. Can you explain how this street inspired your album?
Our bassist Paul has run a jam session in Newcastle for many years and that used to be at the Jazz Café on Pink Lane. This jam has since moved to a different venue and the Prohibition Cabaret Bar has taken over the original Pink Lane venue. I first met Paul in 2016 on the jam at the original venue and I remember everyone being so friendly and welcoming (especially Paul!), I just re-read a review of that evening and I was dubbed ‘the revelation of the night’. Paul asked me to be in the house band when I was next home from University, and I said yes. It all started from there. I also brought my partner and Saxophonist Harry to meet Paul and the other musicians at that jam. We are had the album launch at this venue, as we did for our 2020 album Northern Perspective.
2. Your press material states you are from ‘a musician from the North East’ and your Northern roots are clearly referenced in all of your music. Can you explain how your upbringing has shaped your compositions?
Yes, anyone who meets me will have no questions as to where I’m from, I’m a full-on northerner. I named my first album Northern Perspective in homage to all the lovely support we’ve had from audiences and fellow musicians in this region in particular. It seemed fitting to name the new album after the street where we all first played together as a trio.
None of my family play music professionally, my dad plays a bit of bass and guitar at home but isn’t with any groups. I just really liked drums from the off and really enjoyed playing with a range of ensembles growing up including Jazz big bands, orchestras, wind bands, brass bands, rock bands etc. I’m from quite a small, working-class town and hardly knew anything about jazz until I went to Leeds Conservatoire. Everyone in my town was into the pop charts, but there was something about jazz that excited me, I think it was the challenge of playing it.
3. Mirador De Los Poleos is definitely not a Northern influenced track. Can you tell us about this track?
Mirador De Los Poleos was one of the first tunes I wrote for this album after a trip to Tenerife with my dad. One night, we drove up high to see the stars. What an amazing evening, I’ve never seen so much in the night sky, simply wondrous. This is the viewpoint we decided to stop at which was above the clouds. I can’t quite put into words how it made me feel, what a stunning sight. We just stood there for over an hour soaking up the universe even though it was freezing with it being so high up!
4. The final tune on the album is Jazz The Cat which you say is ‘named after my mam’s erratic cat who loves to zoom about the house and attack everything in her path’. Please tell us more about this cat and how this translates musically in the track.
I’m a big fan of cats. Unfortunately, we can’t have pets at our current house, although we’re out and about so much it’s probably good that we don’t have a cat as I’d never want to leave it! Jazz is the cat I got whilst still living with my parents, she is now in the care of my Mam and I see her all the time. Jazz is a black cat and will pop up very unexpectedly and you rarely see her coming. She is also extremely fast and agile. This track really reminded me of her zooming about the house, I thought it should be named after her. It all comes down to the fast tempo and the driving swing rhythm at the heart of the track. Sometimes I’ll count this tune in too quickly and it’s really fun to play, but really on edge and unpredictable, much like a cat whizzing around.
5. The album has been supported by Help Musicians. How vital has this funding been to you, especially considering how hard it is financially for musicians to create new work?
Help Musicians have been an absolute godsend and if there is a millionaire reading this, you should definitely donate to them! I received their Recording and Releasing fund which enabled me to write, rehearse, record and release this new album. The funding has been vital and without it there wouldn’t have been an album. They have also helped myself and many musicians through covid when we couldn’t receive funding from anyone else. They also helped with some recent surgery for me too. I honestly can’t thank them enough, what they do is amazing.
6. How does this new album relate to your previous albums and how would describe the development of you as the leader?
The first album was half my arrangements of existing tunes and half originals by myself and the other members of the band. I’m quite a competent arranger but composing from scratch is a whole different ball game. We then released a live gig recording from Newcastle Jazz Festival 2021, that was a mix of arrangements and originals again. This new album is 8 new original tracks written by myself. It really took a lot for me to compose these with the help of the guys and also Seb De Krom who came up and workshopped them with us. It was nice to explore my composing and we’ve had some great feedback from people on the new tunes. I think our playing has improved and that has developed the music, we really work well together and having played for so long together, have a good connection on and off stage. I’ve worked quite hard to promote the trio this year alongside gigging and I’m hoping some new audiences get to hear us perform and enjoy the new album.
7. You have a wonderful trio not only on the new album, but that you gig with regularly – Harry Keeble, Paul Grainger and yourself of course. Can you tell us how these musical relationships began?
I met Paul on the Jazz Café jam in Newcastle whilst I was home from Leeds Conservatoire back in 2016. He was so lovely and booked me for many jam sessions and gigs after that. It was an obvious choice to have him in the trio, he’s incredibly reliable, a great player and does a fantastic curry. I met Harry shortly after this in 2016 when he started studying at Leeds as well. He auditioned for my big band that I’d decided to setup that year and I loved his sound. I remember him being very stressed and out of breath because he’d gotten confused with which room I was holding the auditions in. He went on to perform in my final recital band alongside other projects and is my partner too. These two musicians are incredibly supportive and I can’t thank them enough for trekking across the country for gigs with me.
Abbie Finn with Toni Kofi
8. You recently launched the new album at the Prohibition Cabaret Bar. What are your next plans? Album tour?
I’m performing the new album at a few venues over the next few months, but I’m always looking to bring the trio to new venues, so anyone can message me at Abbiefinn.com . I’m always in touch with venues to see where I can bring the trio next and we’d love to bring the music to new audiences. I also found out that I’ve received a grant from the Ronnie Scott’s Charitable Foundation so new music is on the way!
9. As well as the gigging and your new album, you also run a monthly Jazz night in Darlington. Why did you decide to start hosting this and what can people expect to see and hear?
Our friend Alan Thompson who plays Saxophone used to run these nights and asked if we would like to take them over. So, we run the jazz gig every second Tuesday (apart from this February as it’s Valentine’s so it’s been moved to the 28th) at the Forum Music Centre in Darlington. We took it over as a way of performing with the various ensembles that we play with, including the trio. We book a lot of local musicians and have a very loyal audience. We’re in the process of trying to increase the audience size and encourage new people to come and support live music so we can pay for larger ensembles. We’ve got a nice range of acts coming up from vocalists to organ trios and the venue are super nice.
10. Words of wisdom for staying sane in the jazz industry?
I would say to play the music you enjoy as much as possible, don’t go composing or playing music just to fit into a particular crowd, you gotta enjoy it! Make sure to get musicians in your band who you can rely on to turn up to rehearsals and gigs on time, or better, ahead of time. Also, you’re going to spend quite a lot of time with these people so make sure they’re nice and you get on well. I’d also say to pick-up a hobby that is outside of music so you can switch off for an evening. Harry and I have really gotten into archery in the last 6 months and we regularly shoot with a club. It’s great fun and means we can spend time together, but can switch off about the music for a while. We also go to the gym too, it’s important to feel good in yourself so you have the energy on gigs to give it your all.
Photographs: Courtesy of Monika Jakubowska
Interview: Fiona Ross
Website: Abbiefinn.com
Buy Abbie's music: Bandcamp
