Shear Brass at Ronnie Scott’s: a Sunday treat for George Shearing fans
LIVE REVIEW: Uriel Herman + Yelfris Valdés at Ronnie Scott's
Jazzwise’s Tom Spargo writes, “Evenings at Ronnie’s don’t get much better than this.”
Uriel Herman in The Guardian
John Forhham chooses the Israeli artist’s Ronnie Scott’s show as the one to see.
LIVE REVIEW: Dameronia's Legacy All-Stars at Ronnie Scott's
A great show to a packed house, loved by all!
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LIVE REVIEW: NIGEL PRICE BRINGS THE SPIRIT OF WES MONTGOMERY TO A ROCKING SATURDAY NIGHT AT RONNIE SCOTT’S
Jazzwise Magazine’s Peter Jones writes, “The acclaimed guitarist brought the house down with his string-tinged 11-piece take on the music of Wes Montgomery.”
The hardest-working man in showbusiness is no longer James Brown but our very own Nigel Price: online jazz guru, saviour of the Swanage Jazz Festival, single-handed organiser of multiple huge tours of the UK, nominated for the 2021 Parliamentary Jazz Award for Best Ensemble – and an accomplished guitarist too. So it was hardly surprising that he not only sold out Ronnie Scott’s for both Saturday night shows, but brought ten musicians on stage, including a string quartet, and went 15 minutes over time at the end of the first show. Inexplicably, this was the first time in 600 gigs at “Jazz HQ” that he’s played the main room under his own name.
The occasion was the launch of Price’s much-lauded Wes Reimagined album (Ubuntu Music), on which he gives each Montgomery composition a twist and sends it off in a whole new direction. Hence the slow, sleepy ‘Leila’ was injected with a double-shot of adrenaline and turned into an upswing rampage. ‘Far Wes’ became a waltz, on which organist and long-time collaborator Ross Stanley demonstrated his mastery of nudge and nuance, whisper and swell. And ‘Jingles’, a hip, syncopated Wes-defining tune if ever there was one, mutated into an energetic samba, enlivened further by a terrific rhythm battle between drummer Joel Barford and percussionist Snowboy.
As Price pointed out, Wes Montgomery had a lot to do with bringing latin and funk styles into the mainstream jazz repertoire. The premise of both the album and the gig therefore made a lot of sense: to use the tools that the great man left us. And it wasn’t always a question of kicking everything into a higher gear: the joyful ‘So Do It’ became what Price introduced as “a depressing downtempo bolero.” In fact, it was more like more a gorgeous Henry Mancini cheese-fest. The night ended with Tony Kofi (alto) and Vasilis Xenopoulos (tenor) trading licks with guest Callum Au (trombone) on the closer ‘Cariba!’, done as a funky shuffle, sweetened yet further by the young string quartet Phonograph Effect Strings.
REVIEW: Shez Raja at Ronnie Scott's
LJN’s A J Dehany writes, “By the end everyone in Ronnie’s was clapping and standing up, as if five rivers of joy had burst their banks, in a good way.”
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REVIEW: Leo Richardson Quartet - Live stream from Ronnie Scott's - Sept. 10
Bebop Spoken Here’s Lance Liddle writes, “Possibly the best live stream I've watched yet - from anywhere!”
Leo Richardson (tenor sax); Rick Simpson (piano); Tim Thornton (bass); Ed Richardson (drums).
Never has the expression hitting the deck running been more apt than tonight at Ronnie's. The band powered in with such force that they must surely have cut a rut across the stage. Well, maybe not a rut but certainly a groove and this was just the opener!
It was a breathtaking start and one which didn't let up from start to finish apart from a couple of delightful ballads one of which, Elisha's Song, dedicated to Leo's niece almost brought tears to my eyes, such was the emotions conveyed.
All of the numbers, apart from a dedication to Michael Brecker (Michael), were from the band's first two albums which mean't they came to me with a degree of familiarity which most certainly didn't breed contempt!
Quite the opposite! Hearing them live gave that little bit extra insight. Leo is an absolute powerhouse on tenor. There are a lot of great tenor players on the scene these days and Richardson can lock horns and hold his head up high alongside the best of them.
On piano, Rick Simpson laid down the groundwork for a blue plaque in his home town of Guisborough with solos that matched the leader's intensity - he was burnin'.
Tim Thornton didn't often put his head above the parapet but when he did it was to deliver a masterclass in jazz bass.
Ed Richardson may not be Leo's brother but jazz wise he could well be. His no holds barred solo on the Brecker tribute was equalled only by Leo's fiery solo on the same tune.
This was a night to remember and not just for the fireworks and the mouthwatering references to the exotic Espresso Martini that seemed to be the drink of the day - one of Leo's originals was actually called Martini Shuffle - Enrico's this wasn't!
Possibly the best live stream I've watched yet - from anywhere!
Lance
Camilla George Smashes It at Ronnie Scott's!
Bebop Spoken Here’s Russell writes, “Camilla George is in the vanguard of the new generation. As and when she takes to the road be sure to check her out. “
Ronnie Scott’s: Celebrating the Legendary Jazz Club's 60-Year Reign in Soho
"If a jazz club lasts a year it’s a miracle,” says MD Simon Cooke.
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Ronnie Scott’s set to launch exclusive 1959 style pop-up jazz club
In celebration of its’ landmark 60th anniversary, legendary Jazz Club Ronnie Scott’s announces a pop-up jazz club at Gerry’s club on Dean Street, Soho.
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