Dean Stockdale Quartet @ Opus 4 Jazz Club - Jan 21

Dean Stockdale (piano); Mark Williams (guitar); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums)

An all Oscar Peterson programme at the first Opus 4 Jazz Club meeting of the year. All things considered - Covid 'n' all that - the Traveller's Rest in the Darlington suburb of Cockerton drew a sizeable crowd keen to hear pianist Dean Stockdale 'play Oscar'. Joining local lad Stockdale, three established musicians on the scene: guitarist Mark Williams, bassist Mick Shoulder, and drummer John Bradford. The quartet opened with OP's Blues Etude. Solos all round topped off by a solid fours, a great start to the evening. 

Tenderly, Have You Met Miss Jones?, both out of OP's top drawer, a swinging C Jam Blues with Stockdale on top form, Bradford soloing to great effect, the only thing missing, Peterson notwithstanding, was a good upright piano. Stockdale's keyboard was and is fine, as far as it goes, but wouldn't it be something if Opus 4 Jazz Club set about raising funds to acquire an acoustic piano? Come to think of it, some people are only to willing to part with an old piano for free. Food for thought?

It's good to have a pianist of Dean Stockdale's calibre looking to explore the work of the legendary Canadian pianist. And to have Mark Williams on the gig ensured that there wouldn't be slavish copying of the great Herb Ellis, the Tyneside based Irishman is his own man. A fine first set concluded with a familiar enough number, OP's Kelly's Blues. Second set, Take the A Train, a three-part suite - Hogtown Blues, Wheatland and Blues of the Prairies - rooting Peterson in the North American landscape proved to be one of many highlights here on West Auckland Road, Darlington. Keep an eye on the listings, it's likely Dean Stockdale playing Oscar Peterson will happen again, hopefully not before too long!         

Tomorrow (Sunday 23, 6:30pm) Dean Stockdale is Mike Dixon's guest on Jazz Time (www.ayclifferadio.co.uk).
Russell