Dean Stockdale Quartet @ The Cherry Tree.

Dean Stockdale (pno); Jimi Savage (gtr); Neil Harland (bs); Keith Hill (dms).
(Review by Lance.)

I began my Monday repast with Black Pudding Fritters and Apple Purée - So What? I hear you say which is what I hear the band play.

Stockdale is an able pianist who lists a stint at London's Savoy Hotel on his cv and is certainly a welcome addition to the region's keyboard fraternity. Jimi Savage, the name and the spelling suggest some Neanderthal Hendrix axeman, turned out to be a tasteful player who also operates a guitar studio in Newcastle Arts Centre. Neil Harland, the eternal Man For All Seasons is cucumber cool and Keith Hill did just enough to keep the Way You Look Tonight swinging.

I thought I detected a switch into 3/4 at one stage as my concentration was shifted from the music to my Bavette Steak - medium rare as per the chef's recommendation - with Fries, Garden Salad and Mustard. Bag's Groove certainly cut the mustard before the ageing Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square. This was surely the longest ever version of this classic song. To give you an idea, it went on for almost as long as it took me to eat the mountain of fries that arrived with the steak! Having said that, both the music and the fries did go down well.

Blue Bossa then Emily. This now rarely played tune was possibly the best of the night. Sensitive, full of emotion - I wanted to meet an Emily to match the tune. Instead I had Chocolate Brownie with Vanilla Ice Cream which was an almost adequate substitute.

The set finished with a medium blues - one of those numbers you know off by heart but can never put a name to it. This featured Drummer Hill using the palm of his hands before reverting back to sticks.

A good set by a band that is maybe still a work in progress. I look forward to hearing them again.

Lance.