FRIDAY NIGHT JAZZ ON BBC4 – I DIDN’T FORGET IT

As advised by Lance, I watched Sonny Rollins at Ronnie Scott’s from 1974; the 1989 Omnibus tribute to Ronnie Scott; and the item about the four important jazz albums from 1959.  By the time the Transatlantic Sessions of folk music came on at 1pm, I fell asleep – don’t tell the folkies!

These programmes were very educational for someone like myself who missed all this the first time round.  Some of the Sonny Rollins went way over my head, but I was impressed by his long solo of improvisations which included many diverse tunes such as (I think!) The Nearness of You; A-Hunting We Will Go; Give a Little Whistle; and some classical music.  I was greatly amused by the Scottish bagpipes played by a musician in full kilt and stockings.  I didn’t know it was possible to play jazz on bagpipes and it didn’t seem to quite work for some of the tunes.  The band included the more usual guitar and drums, and they did tasty versions of Don’t Stop the Carnival and Alfie’s Theme.

The history of Ronnie Scott’s up to 1989 was very informative.  There can’t be many venues with food where the proprietor advises you not to eat there.  The atmosphere seemed just right.  Can someone tell me about Ronnie Scott’s now, is it still in Frith Street, and has the food improved?  And, more important, is the music still good?

The groundbreaking albums of 1959 were Miles Davis Kind of Blue; Dave Brubeck Time Out; Ornette Coleman The Shape of Jazz to Come; and Charles Mingus Ah Um.  Most blog readers will already know this but I’d never heard of the last two.  I remember listening to the Brubeck as a child and loving it then, mostly for its strong tunes and unusual rhythms.  Hints of what was to come in later life.

Ann Alex.