After a UK tour last year which included dates in London, Ireland and Paris, the Dean Stockdale Quartet returns to perform a new set of the music of legendary jazz pianist Oscar Peterson, marking the centennial of his birth.

The quartet features Tim Williams on Guitar, Gavin Barras on bass and Gaz Hughes on drums.

The show focuses on special new arrangements of Oscar’s music, in particular his original compositions and music from his most popular albums, showcasing his infectious swing and piano virtuosity, plus music from the quartet’s album ‘Celebrating Oscar’.

Dean Stockdale is a highly regarded jazz pianist, arranger and composer based in the North of England who is known for his sensitive, swinging style.

He regularly appears around the UK with his trio and some of the best names in UK jazz. His biggest influences in jazz are the piano styles of Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, Gene Harris, Mulgrew Miller and Erroll Garner.

Dean continues to be in demand as a performer with his trio and quartet, and as pianist for touring jazz artists, accompanist for vocalists and as a teacher and session pianist.

2021 saw the release of his second trio album entitled ‘Promise the Moon’, which was featured on BBC Radio 3, Jazz FM and BBC Introducing.

His latest release ‘Celebrating Oscar’ is available now.

Ticket link : https://wegottickets.com/event/662059

“Straight-ahead, high energy jazz is his line and he does it with aplomb” (The Guardian)

Over his twenty-five year career, Simon Spillett has worn almost as many hats as it’s possible to wear within jazz; multi-award-winning instrumentalist (BBC Jazz Awards, British Jazz Awards, Jazz Journal’s Album of The Year), quartet and big band leader, recording artist, author, historian, record producer, archivist, magazine columnist and latterly blogger. However, for all these varied skills, he identifies most strongly as a powerfully swinging, straight-ahead tenor saxophonist, one capable of taking the audiences who hear him on a roller-coaster ride encompassing everything from energetic bebop to heartfelt balladry. It is in this guise that he’s become a solid fixture on the UK jazz landscape, regularly playing sold-out gigs at major festivals (EFG London Jazz Festival, Brecon, Swanage, Scarborough, Wigan) and world famous club venues (Ronnie Scott’s).

A charismatic performer, gifted with a dry observational wit, he’s never lost sight of the fact that jazz is entertainment as much as self-expression and whether playing, writing or articulately holding forth on his favourite subject – UK jazz history – he’s an infectiously passionate communicator.

Joining Simon Spillett tonight, we have the barefoot energy, flying socks and passion of Alex Steele on piano; the insuperable groove merchant, Mike Cypher on drums, always ready to snatch the unexpected beats and turn them into unrivalled rhythmical joy; and the beautifully melodic, lyrical, eloquent and effervescent, ‘Moyk’ Green on double bass.