Bebop Spoken There

Donovan Haffner ('Best Newcomer' 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards): ''I got into jazz the first time I picked up a saxophone!" - Jazzwise Dec 25/Jan 26

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

18146 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 24 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 7), 24

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Sat 10: Mark Toomey Quintet @ St Peter’s Church, Stockton-on-Tees. 7:30pm. £12.00. (inc. pie & peas). Tickets from: 07749 255038.

Sun 11: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 12: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Milne Glendinning Band @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 13: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 15: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Quartet + guest Paul Donnelly (guitar).

Fri 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
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: Darlington Big Band @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 16: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 9:00pm. 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, February 28, 2022

Dean Stockdale Trio @ the Railway, Stockport - Feb. 27

Dean Stockdale (keys); Gavin Barras (bass); Gaz Hughes (drums). 

Dean Stockdale plays frequently in the north east but not so often in the Greater  Manchester area so it was good to see him once again leading his trio through a selection of standards and originals here at the Railway. 


After a bass intro, Dean got straight into some medium tempo improvising and only played the theme on the final thirty two bars of a number which turned out to be Take the A Train. He was given great support  on all twelve tunes by the first rate rhythm team of Barras and Hughes.


Stockdale regards Oscar Peterson as one of his influences and he featured two of Oscar’s originals, Bossa Beguine and Blues of the Prairies. Also Dean played two of his own compositions Mia’s Lullaby and First Light and these were well received by the audience.


The trio held my interest on every number but if I had to pick out the ones that I liked most I would say Old Folks,  which reminds me of Don Byas who recorded  that tune a few times, and the final number of the evening Oleo on which Gaz Hughes got to play an extended solo. I meant to ask Dean if he had recorded his trio as I would certainly like to hear his playing on record*.


The next jazz night at the Railway is Tuesday March 1 with the Steve Oakes Band  featuring George King. Mike Farmer.

 

*See image - Lance.

Take the A Train; It Could Happen to You; Old Folks; On the Sunny Side of the Street; Mia’s Lullaby; Blues In the Closet; Have You Met Miss Jones?; My Romance; Bossa Beguine; First Light; Blues of the Prairies; Oleo.

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