Bebop Spoken There

Ludovic Beier (Django Festival Allstars): ''Manouche means 'free man,' and gypsies have been travelers since they migrated west from India to Europe.'' (DownBeat March, 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

18395 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 259 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 30 ), 69

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

March

Tue 31: Bede Trio @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Albert Hills Wright (alto sax); Finn Carter (piano); Michael Dunlop (double bass).

April

Wed 01: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 01: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 01: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 02: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Musicians playing classical & orchestral music.
Thu 02: The Noel Dennis Band @ Prohibition Bar, Albert Road, Middlesbrough TS1 2RU. 7:00pm (doors). £10.84. Quartet plus special guest Zoë Gilby. Over 21s only.
Thu 02: Renegade Brass Band @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 02: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00. adv..
Thu 02: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 03: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 03: King Bees @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). Free. Chicago blues.

Monday, June 20, 2022

Dean Stockdale Trio @ the Railway, Stockport - June 19

(© Jeff Pritchard)
Dean Stockdale (keys); Gavin Barras (bass); Gaz Hughes (drums)

Things got underway tonight with a medium tempo version of Thelonious Monk’s blues, Blue Monk and although Dean was playing his Nord keyboard he got the sound just about as near to a good piano sound as it’s possible to get. With a first rate rhythm team of Gavin Barras and Gaz Hughes on board the scene was set for some excellent modern jazz and that is what this trio produced. 

Dean is a big fan of the great piano genius Oscar Peterson and he included in tonight’s show of twelve tunes no less than three compositions by the Canadian pianist. Hymn To Freedom, Bossa Beguine and Blues for the Prairie were well received by the near-capacity audience.


The rest of the show contained a mixture of familiar standards, tunes from the be-bop era and an original by Dean entitled Mia’s Lullaby. There was also a very fine rendition of the Oscar Pettiford classic Tricotism which not many pianists attempt as it is a real finger-buster but Dean made me think that more tunes like this at a fast tempo would be a good move, albeit a challenge for many other pianists.


The next jazz night at the Railway is on June 21 with guitarist Trefor Owen - Mike Farmer

 

Blue Monk; I’m Old Fashioned; Hymn to Freedom; It Could Happen to You; Mia’s Lullaby; Bossa Beguine; Blues for the Prairie; Oleo; Beautiful Love; Tricotism; My Romance; On the Sunny Side of the Street.

No comments :

Blog Archive