Bandstand! Where's that? Ah, well, you'll know it well. Exhibition Park's old cafe, closed by Newcastle City Council (so-called 'austerity' continues), recently reopened by an independent operator, is putting on a regular jazz night. The first of them featured the Dean Stockdale Trio.
And for a first night, SOLD OUT! signs were just what Doctor Jazz ordered. Oscar Peterson's Reunion Blues, the first number. Let's hope it's the first of many in the coming years. Pianist Dean Stockdale (a big fan of OP), bassist Mick Shoulder and drummer John Bradford know the Gasbook well and a chattering bunch in one corner of the room wasn't about to distract them.*
Frank Loesser's I've Never Been in Love Before (from Guys and Dolls), C Jam Blues (to drown out the chatterboxes), Pure Imagination (the twenty-something chatterboxes knew this one), for a first set at a brand new jazz venue, let's give it 8 out of 10.
Interval: Dean, Mick and John tucking in to a wood-fired pizza).
Have You Met Miss Jones? resumed affairs. It's a favourite number of Dean's and he always finds something new in Rodgers and Hart's much performed/loved song. Similarly, Tenderly, Mick's softly-softly approach exactly what was required. Dean chose to go out on OP's Hymn to Freedom. Perfect.
* Tactful management saw to it that the noisy bunch piped-down second set. They'll get the hang of it. Russell
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