James Pearson (piano); Alex Garnett (tenor sax/vocals); Sam Burgess (bass); Chris Draper (drums); Natalie Williams (vocals).
(Review by Lance).
I'd seen the show a couple of times previously but this didn't detract from an enjoyable evening. When all the old jokes were rolled out I groaned but, they were seemingly new to many of the audience in the three-tiers full Sage Two so I laughed along with them and, truth to tell, I never tire of hearing them again.
Pearson (pictured left) and Garnett did most of the narration helped by the projected backdrop and some words from the late, great, man himself. I never made it to the Club 11 or the first Ronnie Scott's in Gerrard St. although there was a period when I was a regular at the Flamingo Club, also in Soho, where Ronnie Scott often appeared whilst this coming Wednesday (May 1) I shall be at the Frith St. club where Alan Barnes is playing. Paradoxically, many would say that Barnes has inherited the role of Jazz Court Jester that once was Ronnie's.
I digress as, of course, tonight it was the live music that made the gig something special and the surprise inclusion of Natalie Williams who sang beautifully as she always does
The tall singer looked good and sounded good. Prior to this evening, I'd heard her in a previous edition of the show as well as at Hoochie, Cadogan Hall and on CD. After the concert, her albums were replacing hot cakes in the bestseller lists and deservedly so.
A Night in Tunisia; How High the Moon; Moody's Mood for Love; Love For Sale; James (Pat Metheny); Spain; I Loves You Porgy; Sister Sadie and the encore It Don't Mean a Thing - which was synced with a projection of Ella Do-wa-do-wa-do-waing it on screen - all of which were knockout performances.
The band were well featured with some 'Scott-ish' tenor from Garnett who also produced some Roland Kirk-like harmonics, sang a duet with Williams on Moody's Mood and the pair's vocalese/tenor blast on Sister Sadie was truly memorable!
As well as helping out with the anecdotes and 'vamping till ready' Pearson paid tribute to Oscar Peterson with a dazzling Place St. Henri from his [Peterson's] Canadiana Suite, Burgess was featured on Walkin' and Draper played one of the more imaginative drum solos on Love For Sale.
Instrumentals included a blistering Airmail Special; Through the Night Roared the Overland Express and Alfie's Theme.
A thoroughly enjoyable history lesson.
Lance
1 comment :
"...Anyone in from Middlesbrough... There's a little known fact Ladies and
Gentlemen that towards the end of the war the Americans accidentally dropped
an atom bomb whilst flying over the town......Did £4 of damage."
"Just after the war, we were all very poor and had to walk around dressed in
war surplus clothing...I can tell you it was no fun for a nice jewish boy to
be going around the East End dressed as a Japanese Admiral...."
Hey Ho That was Ronnie.
I do miss him and the other two,
Ronnie's was BPR Ltd Brian Pete and Ronnie
Brian (Theobald) was the agent, Pete (King) was the club manager and
incidentally also a racing driver trainer at Brands Hatch. and of course
Ronnie Scott(Musician and Host)
When I left the North East in 1979; for the first year, my office was on the
1st floor of Ronnies - A gift from the 3 of them to get me going in London.
The first Alexandra Palace jazz Festival was organised from there. It was a
fun-filled period.
"You from Hebburn Sir ? ...... I spent a fortnight there....Last Thursday!"
RIP Ronnie Scott
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