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