Ian Shaw: 'When Bowie Met Joni' live streaming from Ronnie's - Mar. 4

Ian Shaw (piano, vocals); Jamie Safir (piano)

(Screenshots by Ken Drew)

As a young teenager Ian Shaw met David Bowie and Joni Mitchell. The pop icons met face to face on his bedroom floor. Looking at Bowie's Hunky Dory and Mitchell's Blue album covers, Shaw thought they looked alike, one and the same, high cheek bones and all. And so began a life-long love affair. 

Decades later Shaw reunited Bowie and Mitchell on stage at Ronnie Scott's in When Bowie Met Joni. The house Yamaha grand standing in the spotlight awaited Shaw. Our man, casually dressed, strolled out, sat down and began to play. For Bowie and Mitchell fans, the following ninety minutes couldn't have been other than pure joy. From Quicksand and Oh! You Pretty Things to Chelsea Morning, Shaw gave a masterclass in the art of jazz singing and jazz piano playing. 

Shaw said he would sing nineteen songs, all but one written by his subjects, the odd one out being Annie Lennox's Twisted, written in praise of Bowie. Throughout the performance not once did Shaw pause to drink from a glass. One song to the next, seamless, the occasional commentary, a master of his craft at work. Some song sheets were cast aside with a theatrical gesture. Shaw's enviable vocal range a delight, our man from north Wales conclusively demonstrated he's no mean pianist. 

As Shaw approached the end of the set it appeared our man had forgotten to plug Ronnie's donation option to his online audience. Not so! Self-effacing, Shaw made the case for supporting Ronnie's, and in so doing, assured musicians up and down the land that things would soon be better for everyone. 

And to close, a surprise guest. Shaw joked he'd bumped into Jamie Safir when he went out to get a pint of milk. Pianist Safir, himself no stranger to the Frith Street stage, agreed to drop by to accompany Shaw on a couple of numbers. As Safir made his way to the stage, Shaw, with sanitiser in hand, wiped down the keyboard before his guest sat down at the Yamaha. Safir seated, Shaw, perched on a socially distanced high stool, sang three numbers (including Mitchell's Conversations and For Free) bringing the evening's live stream masterclass to a close.                           

Russell