Polly Gibbons (vocals); Alex Garnett (tenor sax); James Pearson (MD, piano); Sam Burgess (double bass); Chris Higginbottom (drums)
The Ronnie Scott's Story continues doing the rounds and little wonder given it attracts large attendances at venues up and down the land. Sunderland's Fire Station once again welcomed James Pearson and co, and they, the musicians, were welcomed by a full house. It's a multi-media show - still and moving images projected onto a screen above and behind the on-stage musicians - telling the story of 47 Frith Street and its predecessor Gerrard Street.
The format is commendably simple; the story of Ronnie Scott, his now legendary Soho jazz club and its many ups and downs, his many associates (musicians and non-musicians) and, of course, the music. Here in Sunderland, pianist James Pearson (Ronnie Scott's Artistic Director), bassist Sam Burgess and drummer Chris Higginbottom found themselves improvising, thinking on their feet right from the off as a minor glitch in the audio-visuals rendered an on-screen Ronnie Scott speechless. As a stage technician scurried hither and thither, the piano trio played some jazz. More! More!
Glitch fixed, the on-screen Ronnie Scott was seen and heard blowing tenor in his office, pausing to answer a ringing phone: Scott, repeating a punter's query: What time do we start? Quick as a flash: What time can you get here? Laughter rippled across the auditorium, the show was up and running.
Alex Garnett duly joined Ronnie's house trio. During the course of the evening tenor saxophonist Garnett, taking on the role of narrator, fired-off a string of well-honed one-liners, the audience in the palm of his hand. Polly Gibbons strolled onto stage. BSH's most recent sighting of Ms Gibbons singing 'up north' was with the Strictly Smokin' Big Band. This evening PG reminded everyone - if anyone needed reminding - just how good she is. Dynamics, phrasing, power, presence, the full package.
Numbers ranged from Groovin' High to I'm Just a Lucky So-and-So to Like Someone in Love to a drum feature for Chris Higginbottom, Sing, Sing, Sing (the Buddy Rich-Frith Street connection). For a few moments Gibbons and bassist Sam Burgess had the stage to themselves as they conjured a magical take on I Love Being Here with You. A Latin feel Love for Sale illustrated the era of Cuban/Latin musicians performing at Frith Street (Arturo Sandoval, Irakere ao) and it wasn't long before Sonny Rollins made the cut with Alfie's Theme (Garnett cruising).
Photos of some of the many great names to play at Ronnie's appeared on screen. Alex Garnett wondered if we knew who they were. Amazingly, few in the auditorium offered suggestions. Didn't they know Roland Kirk? Seemingly not. Dexter Gordon, nope, Ben Webster ditto. A photo of a young Ronnie Scott produced a moment of hilarity as a voice piped up 'Acker Bilk'!
Garnett made much, rightly so, of the fact the tenor he was playing once belonged to Ronnie Scott. It was in good hands. To close the show, Polly Gibbons sang three numbers associated with Nina Simone (Simone one of the legendary figures to appear at Ronnie's): I'm Going Back Home, I Put a Spell on You and I Wish I Knew How it Would Fell to be Free. An encore was all but guaranteed. As Ella sang on screen, our on-stage musicians, perfectly in sync, picked it up on It Don't Mean a Thing. It had been another excellent night here on Frith Street, aka High St. West, Sunderland. Russell
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