Dean Stockdale (piano), Gavin Barras (double bass) &
Adam Dawson (drums)
(Review by
Russell).
The welcome return of Dean Stockdale to the Lit &
Phil, on this occasion working with the west of the Pennines bass and drums
pairing of Gavin Barras and Adam Dawson, presented a first opportunity for
Newcastle gig-goers to purchase the pianist's new CD. What's more, this Friday
lunchtime concert was recorded for, at the very least, posterity, if not future
release.
Adam
Dawson's last minute arrival via the always busy M6 and the recording engineer
requiring a few minutes to mic-up the kit resulted in the usual one
o'clock start being delayed slightly. The published programme of eight numbers
actually ended up with nine tunes being played - more of that later.
Clifford
Brown's Joyspring opened the set with
Stockdale's easy swinging piano style to the fore. The trio recently played a
prestigious date at the Gateshead International Jazz Festival and, having been
in the studio to record Origin
(Stockdale's new album), this is a well-oiled working unit, a glance sufficient
visual communication between the three musicians.
Beautiful Love and Nostalgia in
Times Square were choice tunes and two Stockdale compositions - Harbour Lights and Blues for Woody - could be said to be of similar quality. The blues
weren't for Woody Shaw, rather Stockdale's dog Woody (sadly no longer with us).
At
this juncture bassist Gavin Barras laid down his instrument, checked his phone
and announced he would have to be excused for a few minutes to feed money into
a parking meter! Off he went. What to do? Stockdale is an improvising musician,
so, he played a solo piano piece. Metropolitan
Nocturne entertained the audience until Barras' return.
The
trio restored to its full complement, two further Stockdale tunes - Railtown and Nth Degree - were well received by the lunchtime crowd and,
slightly beyond two o'clock, the one hour performance concluded with Out of Nowhere.
A
fine hours’ worth of swinging jazz piano, three compatible musicians, the Dean
Stockdale Trio is looking forward to a Manchester Jazz Festival appearance in
July. A return visit to Tyneside is highly likely and, as and when confirmed,
it comes highly recommended.
Russell.
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