Dean Stockdale
(piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums)
The sun shone today. Sunny Bishop Auckland suggested the best of spring is just around the corner. Auckland Castle, a tourist attraction at the best of times, today looked a picture, a magnet for the many culture vultures milling about town. Those in the know queued at the door to the Old Library, eager to part with a mere eight pounds to hear some of the finest jazz the region has to offer.
As the one o'clock start approached it was another standing-room only affair and little wonder - Dean Stockdale was in town. Joining our Darlington based pianist, two other County Durham residents - bassist Mick Shoulder and drummer John Bradford. In a set of eight tunes, Stockdale included two of his own compositions, the first of them, January Blues, recalled the dark days of winter, thankfully, well and truly behind us. Seated at his Nord 2 keyboard, Stockdale dug into a blues, Shoulder and Bradford right alongside.
The Friday lunchtime audience listened, applauded, listened some more, applauded some more, the monthly Bishop Auckland Jazz concert series is on a roll. From Embraceable You by way of Oscar Peterson's Bossa Beguine to a punchy Joy Spring to the set closing (Stockdale said it didn't need an introduction) Somewhere Over the Rainbow, this was an hour of top class, sensitive, swinging jazz. Next month's concert (Friday 14 June) promises something very different - guitarist Mark Williams' superlative, contemporary jazz trio. Russell
Set list: January Blues; Embraceable You; Bossa Beguine; Mia's Lullaby; Out of Nowhere; In a Mellotone; Joy Spring; Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
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