Bebop Spoken There

Ron Carter quoting Sonny Rollins: ''What we call jazz - that's keeping the world in equilibrium. I don't care what kind of music you like out here today. It all comes from jazz.'' (DownBeat August, 2026)

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

18799 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 663 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 12) 32.

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

From This Moment On

August

Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: John Settle Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. John Settle (vibes); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 14: Bold Big Band @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00 + bf.

Sat 15: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 15: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26.

Sun 16: Vintage Explosion @ Cliffe Park, Roker, Sunderland SR6 8DB. 5:00-10:30pm. £44.00 (inc. bf).

Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 20: Edson Angus Quartet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 20: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

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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