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Bebop Spoken There

George Porter Jr.: ''To me, syncopation is like jazz. It wasn't meant for the masses. It was meant just for a hip few". (DownBeat, May 2025).

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

18018 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 339 of them this year alone and, so far, 17 this month (May 7).

From This Moment On ...

MAY 2025

Thu 15: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: The Greatest in Jazz - Guitarists.
Thu 15: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 15: New Ways of Moving in the Counterworlds @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). John Garner & John Pope.

Fri 16: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 16: Sophie Speed with the Dean Stockdale Trio @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 16: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ Longframlington Memorial Hall. 7:00pm (doors). Tickets: £12.00. from 01665 570984.
Fri 16: Hot Club du Nord @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £10.00.
Fri 16: Peter Donegan & Anthony Donegan @ The Witham, Barnard Castle. 7:30pm. ‘Lonnie Donegan - The Stories’.

Sat 17: Teresa Watson Band @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Blues.
Sat 17: The Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 6:00pm. Tel: 0191 500 9494. £26.00 (inc. two course meal). Line-up: Jason Holcomb, Hannah Taylor, Alix Shepherd & Abbie Finn.
Sat 17: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 17: Archie Brown & the Young Bucks @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Rhythm & blues, Americana etc.
Sat 17: Rockin’ Turner Brothers @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Rockabilly, Western swing etc.

Sun 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 12 noon-2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 18: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 18: Ruth Lambert & Giles Strong @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 18: Steve Summers Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 19: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 19: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 20: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood, Paul Grainger, Bailey Rudd.
Tue 20: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ Pleased to Meet You, Bridge St., Morpeth NE61 1ND. 8:00pm.

Wed 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 21: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 21: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Monday, May 24, 2021

Dean Stockdale Trio live @ the Globe - May 23

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

The first live jazz gig at the Globe this year was a well-deserved sell out. However, it was noted that the online viewers were down so it could be a win some you lose some situation. Not your usual one hour livestream but 2 x 45 minute sets that maybe overran.

Not that I'm complaining although it did present me with a problem - a bus to catch, a cat to feed and a review to write. This meant I missed the last couple of numbers although, no doubt they will be made known to me by my worthy constituent Russell before the night is o'er. 

Now, ordinarily, I'm the guy who groans when the word original is announced. Usually because they aren't original or else,  because they are, unfortunately, original!

Tonight, however, was the exception that proved the rule as, mixed in with the standards were some of Dean's own compositions from his recently released album - Promise the Moon.

First Light was absolutely compelling. Floating delicately over a 3/4 rhythm with some piano/bass fugue-like passages it brought to mind those old Jacques Loussier recordings and there wasn't a cigar in sight apart from the traditional award for a winning performance. All three deserved a case of Havana's finest (theoretically speaking that is as I doubt if they would thank you for such a prize but you know what I mean!)

Mia's Lullaby was composed by Dean with his partner's daughter in mind and this sensitive piece I'm sure had everyone sighing and saying "aaah" mentally, if not audibly. I certainly was although maybe I'm just an old sentimentalist...

Needless to say, the standards, almost broached upon the definitive apart from the arrangement of They Can't Take That Away From Me which didn't quite work for me. One that did work was In a Sentimental Mood even though I quivered when I saw that the drum part alone covered four pages. My misgivings were soon dispelled. Done over a soft Latin rhythm it was as good a version of my favourite Ellington tune as I've heard in many a long year.

Earlier we'd had Witchcraft; Like Someone in Love; On the Sunny Side of the Street; Moon River and a super swingy version of It Could Happen to You.

Credit to all three although Abbie's drums tended to be a bit overpowering at first but that could have been due to me having been away from live gigs for so long that it took my ears time to adjust to the difference between a livestream where you can control the volume as opposed to a gig where you can't. It all evened itself out so no complaints.

Mick Shoulder soloed and supported and some of his solos tonight were near enough as good as it gets. If he's good enough for Dean Stockdale then ...

Great gig, I didn't miss my bus but I did miss Kelly's Blues and Hymn to Freedom (both Oscar Peterson numbers) and the inevitable encore which, on this occasion, was Joy Spring.

Talking of encores, when the crowd are baying "More, More" it all always makes me think of the Romans feeding the Christians and runaway slaves to the the lions (damnatio ad bestias) and, after they'd ran out of slaves and Christians, the spettori would yell out "più, più".
Lance

2 comments :

DJM said...

Ha ha Piu più più !!! Nice review!

Brian shine said...

It was great to be back at a live jazz gig and to see so many faces I know, Dean Stockdale trio did the first jazz gig justice with some wonderful ballads, well played.

BRIAN SHINE

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