(Review by Lance)
Jazz and photography have had a long and mutual love affair with each
other. Nothing captures the memory of a gig better than that of a photo of a
saxophone player in full flight, each bead of perspiration caught by the
camera, or that of a trumpet player, eyes closed, cheeks extended, heading for
the moon. Somehow, a hambone video taken by someone in the audience and posted
on YouTube rarely does credit to the performance or the performer.
With a photo, particularly if you were present, it brings it all back
and even if you weren't there it helps you to visualise it.
This latest addition to the ranks of jazz photo albums can sit proudly
alongside the collections of such as William Claxton, David Redfern, Val Wilmer
and many others.
Freddy Warren was a regular at Ronnie Scott's from the days, or rather
nights, at Gerrard St to the current venue in Frith St., for 20 years taking
atmospheric shots of the legends who appeared there.
Sadly, after some years of ill health, Freddy Warren died in 2010 during
a fire at his home.
Freddy's nephew, Simon Whittle, rescued as many photos and negatives as
he could from the charred remains of the apartment in Euston and the result is
what eventually emerged in this collection.
They're mainly - but not all - in black and white and perfectly capture
the era not least because when a musician hasn't got a horn in his hand he's
holding or smoking a cigarette!
Ronnie Scott's, as we all know, has presented just about every great
jazz musician and many of the players and singers from those early years are
captured here.
Amazing shots of Basie, Cannonball, Tony Bennett, Lockjaw, Dizzy, Duke,
Ella, Miles, Bill Evans, Tubbs, Buddy Rich, Stan Getz, Ben Webster and a whole
lot more.
Also fascinating are the clips of the MM ads from those early days that
adorn the inside of the book's hardback covers.
I'd have liked to have had a few more words accompanying the pictures
but, as the man behind the lens is no longer with us, that's just wishful
thinking. Besides, if a picture paints a 1000 words etc.
It's much more than a coffee table book, it's a musical history book to
adorn your shelves but don't put it so high that you can't reach it!
The Guardian posted some shots from the album here and there is an exhibition currently
running at the Barbican Library in London until January 4, 2020.
It's available via the usual online outlets and from all good bookstores
To purchase individual photos go here.
Lance
Freddy Warren, Graham Marsh, Simon Whittle - Ronnie
Scott's 1959-69. Reel Art Press ISBN: 978-1- 9095266-3-1. £29.95
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