Bebop Spoken There

Dominick "Domo" Branch: ''Most people say drummers can't write, they're just time-keepers only beating on things. But I have a very musical brain.'' (DownBeat February, 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

18288 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 142 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Feb. 14), 42

From This Moment On ...

February

Sat 14: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 14: Big Joe Louis + Michael Littlefield @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £16.00. Jumpin’ Hot Club.
Sat 14: Brass Fiesta @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 10:30pm. Free.

Sun 15: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Trio + Jason Holcomb. Free.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Wild Women of Wylam @ Ye Olde Cross, Ryton. 7:30pm. Free.
Sun 15: Yorkshire Gypsy Swing Collective @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 16: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 16: Jasper Lo + Daniel Chandler Trio @ Little Buildings, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £7.00. + bf.
Mon 16: Joe Steels Group @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00. A Blue Patch album tour.

Tue 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Victoria & Albert Inn, Seaton Delaval. 12:30pm. £9.50. Tickets: 0191 237 3697. ‘Jazz ‘n’ Pancakes’.
Tue 17: John Pope & John Garner @ The Great Hall, Sutherland Building, Northumbria University. 1:15pm. Free. Double bass & violin.
Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); John Hirst (drums).

Wed 18: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 18: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 18: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 19: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: George Shearing Jazz Moments.

Fri 20: Alex Clarke w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT! Clarke w. Dean Stockdale, Mick Shoulder, Abbie Finn.
Fri 20: Squabble @ Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7:00pm. Steve Chambers (organ); Jude Murphy (double bass, vocals); Sid White (drums).
Fri 20: Jive Aces @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors).
Fri 20: Alex Clarke w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Clarke w. Dean Stockdale, Mick Shoulder, Abbie Finn.

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

Saturday, January 21, 2023

Dean Stockdale Quartet: Celebrating Oscar @ Opus 4 Jazz Club - Jan. 20

Dean Stockdale (piano); Tim Williams (guitar); Gavin Barras (double bass ); Gaz Hughes (drums)

The middle of January, freezing cold, stay home, watch the telly. Not likely! Opus 4 Jazz Club's regulars and not so regulars turned out in force to listen to the Dean Stockdale Quartet. And what a quartet! Pianist Dean hails from these here parts (Darlington), his band mates making the trip from west of the Pennines to perform two sets of music written by the legendary Oscar Peterson. Last year, up the road in Newcastle, Dean's quartet played to a full house, this evening the Traveller's Rest was as busy as it's been in a while. 

Celebrating Oscar would be just that, a celebration, but before Dean and co. made a start, many fine words were said in remembering Terry Coates, co-founder of Opus 4 Jazz Club, who sadly died earlier this month. One thing is for sure, Terry would have loved this gig. Indeed, at the request of Opus 4 Jazz Club, the opening number was none other than Night Train. You might as well start the way you mean to go on! Terrific! Across two sets, Dean, Tim, Gavin and Gaz would have a ball. Nigerian Market Place, then Hughes, brushes in hand, brought in Have You Met Miss Jones?, guitarist Williams superb, a great arrangement. A swinging Blues Etude closed out an excellent first set.  

Another pint of Theakston's Best, a clutch of raffle tickets, a natter, this was Opus 4 at its best. The second set picked up where the quartet left off playing a fine take  on Noreen's Nocturne. Dean Stockdale playing OP wouldn't be Dean Stockdale playing OP without a selection from OP's Canadiana Suite...Blues for the Prairies, Wheatland and Hogtown Blues. The gig delivered in spades: Stockdale in fine form, Williams hugely impressive (think Herb Ellis), likewise Gavin Barras (think Niels-Henning) and, driving it along at the back, covering every move, A-list drummer, Gaz Hughes. It was almost time to go, but not before another swinger, yes, C Jam Blues. Cookin'! And to close, with Terry Coates looking down from up there, OP's stately Hymn to Freedom. Russell          
at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive