Review: Dave Newton & Dean Stockdale 15 March 2014

Reproduced from Bebop Spoken Here, the best jazz blog in (Northern) England

Dave Newton & Dean Stockdale (keys).
(Review by Lance/Photo courtesy of Ken Drew).

The number 22 bus takes you practically to the door of The Globe so it was but a short hop from Havana à la Hoochie into the unknown – the unknown being whether a two piano set, even one by two such formidable performers as Dave and Dean, would pull the punters.

The downstairs bar was doing good business with concertgoers seeking refreshment prior to an evening of Spandau Ballet at the Arena.

Upstairs too was near to standing room only as the audience slaked their thirst in eager anticipation.

We weren’t disappointed.

A long reflective intro saw both players feeding off each other before stomping intoLady be Good.
This “Lady” wasn’t just “Good” she was “Sensational”! Likewise Miss Jones. Jobim’s Triste, St Thomas, Over the Rainbow and Cheek to Cheek were other twenty fingered outings that pleased, as did a solo slot for Dean On the Sunny Side of the Street.

During the break Dean revealed he’d taken lessons from Dave some years ago and it showed inasmuch as, despite their differing styles they were, nevertheless, very compatible.

The second round – sorry, I mean set – opened with the ever delightful Alice in Wonderland followed by a rolling stock blues boogie. Was it Pinetop, Meade Lux, Johnson or Yancey? No, it was John Clayton’s Blues For Stephanie – it rocked the room.
Like Someone in Love, four handed stride on Tea For Two, My Romance (or was it Here’s That Rainy Day?) had Dave not only flying solo but also pressing the guitar button on the Clavinova to the effect that by closing your eyes he really was playing guitar!

On Green Dolphin St and some fun with Rhythm changes then it was all over.

Or was it?

Of course it wasn’t!

An audience member stood up and shouted (she really did) “Play Misty For me!”

Well even though Clint Eastwood wasn’t around they did.

A fitting end to a rather wonderful day.