Darlington Jazz Festival: Stockdale, Shoulder, Finn @ Voodoo Cafe - May 4

Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums)

(Review by Russell)

A late Saturday afternoon finish at the Quakerhouse was followed by an even later late afternoon trio gig at the Voodoo Cafe. No sooner had Dean Stockdale, Mick Shoulder and Abbie Finn said their goodbyes to trumpeter Graham Hardy the trio picked up belongings and instruments and set up round the corner at the Voodoo Cafe on Skinnergate. 

Friday evening's Matt Roberts Sextet gig took place on the first floor above the Voodoo Cafe whereas this piano trio set played to a ground floor audience with the musicians advertising their wares to Skinnergate's high street footfall by plonking themselves in the shop window. Dean Stockdale likes to play Have You Met Miss Jones? and it seems bassist Mick Shoulder and drummer Abbie Finn share the pianist's liking for it. Gershwin's They Can't Take That Away From Me then Stockdale raided the Rodgers' library again to play My Romance. 

The Voodoo crowd comprised jazz festival insatiables and out-on-the-town types sipping cocktails with umbrellas - that's umbrellas in their drinks not the sort with a more practical use. They didn't hear a single note played but, right on cue, seal-like, applauded as if they were listening to their favourite pop star! 

Jobim's Triste evoked images of parasols rather than brollies, Sammy Fain's Alice in Wonderland waltzed along and Bird's Billie's Bounce fairly bounced along. The evening's big set piece marquee occasion wasn't far off so Stockdale and co left us with I Wish I Knew. A class act of a trio.      

Russell