Scarborough Jazz Festival - Friday afternoon (Sept. 26)

South Bay sparkled in warm, autumnal sunshine. The Spa was about to host the 22nd Scarborough Jazz Festival. The long weekend festival schedule looked enticing and the highlight of Friday afternoon's opening session would culminate in a commemorative centenary concert. The first concert - the first of three this afternoon - featured pianist Jamil Sheriff's 4 in 1. 

Jamil Sheriff's 4 in 1

Will Howard (sax); Jamil Sheriff (piano); Sam Quintana (double bass): Steve Hanley (drums)

Jamil Sheriff, bassist Sam Quintana and drummer Steve Hanley were heard in action a matter of a few short weeks ago. BSH last heard the quartet's tenor saxophonist, Will Howard, a long, long time ago on the County Durham beat. How would he shape up? It is a pleasure to report that, in a set spanning seventy five minutes which included Jitterbug Waltz, Milestones and Upper Manhattan Medical Group, Howard reminded BSH what an accomplished  player he was and most certainly is!         

   

Emily Masser - Alex Clarke Quintet

Emily Masser (vocals); Alex Clarke (tenor sax); Robin Aspland (piano); James Owston (double bass); Steve Brown (drums)

That Old Devil Moon, Dat Dere. Where had we heard these numbers before? Ah, yes - seven days earlier Emily Masser was singing the classic numbers up in Newcastle and Darlington. They sounded every bit as good here in Scarborough! Ms Masser's fellow A-list bandmates - the hugely impressive Alex Clarke, Robin Aspland, ace bassist James Owston and the immaculate Steve Brown - were right on the money. An excellent set. 

 

Dean Stockdale's All Star 11: 100 Years of Oscar Peterson

Dean Stockdale's homage to Oscar Peterson (premiered in Newcastle in July 2022) has put in the miles. Following the resounding success of the Tyneside date, Celebrating Oscar subsequently toured the UK (including the Buxton International Festival), Ireland, Belgium and France. 

Dean Stockdale (piano); Tim Williams (guitar); Gavin Barras (double bass); Gaz Hughes (drums) + Emily Masser (vocals); Alan Barnes (sax); Mark Armstrong (trumpet); Ebor String Quartet: Emily Jones (violin); Nick Frost (violin); Conor Woodcock (viola); Claire Herriott (cello)

Billed as Dean Stockdale's All Star 11, it was difficult to argue with the tag. Pianist Stockdale's ace quartet, augmented by Emily Masser, Alan Barnes, Mark Armstrong and the Ebor String Quartet (the '11'), revisited the late, great Canadian pianist's music. Falling in Love with Love, Bossa Beguine, Noreen's Nocturne, Hogtown Blues, Stockdale, at the festival's Bösendorfer grand, could rightly be proud of his Oscar Peterson centenary project. Russell