Dean Stockdale (piano), Mick Shoulder
(double bass)
(Review by Russell)
Not so many in this week -
post-Easter blues? Who knows? Those who did get along enjoyed two sets of
standards and a couple of pianist Dean Stockdale's compositions performed by an
experienced duo exuding class.
My Romance, They Can't
Take That Away From Me and The Nearness of You, three
classic numbers, the County Durham duo of Stockdale and double bassist Mick
Shoulder au fait with the material, the Mezzanine audience listened with a
cuppa in hand.
A couple of years ago Dean Stockdale
released a well-received trio album - Origin - and the
composer chose a selection from it. Another Time is
a fine piece and bassist Shoulder read the dots seeking to do justice to his
colleague's tune and he did just that.
Listen to Stockdale live or on CD and
you'll likely as not detect a Peterson/Billy Taylor/perhaps Garner influence in
his playing. Witchcraft, an elegant Alice in Wonderland,
it's understandable that our pianist is in demand across the north of England
and beyond leading trio sessions and working as a sideman. A second original
composition - First Light - is yet to be committed to tape and
on this hearing it could well feature on the pianist's next album which one
hopes won't be too far off. Stockdale remarked that Shoulder would be playing
the number for perhaps only the second time. Reading as he went, our versatile
Djangologist once again proved to be a more than able, not to mention
sensitive, GASbook accompanist.
A couple of contrasting selections to
finish - Billy Taylor's I Wish I Knew and Bird's Billie's
Bounce - sought to dispel any doubts (none here at BSH) that Dean
Stockdale and Mick Shoulder are A-listers plying their trade right here in the
north of England.
Russell
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