| Jazz in London | 22 avril 2013 | | January-February 2013 | | © Jazz Hot n°663, printemps 2013 |
I had two slight accidents at Christmas and then New Year which restricted me, in January, to mainly only attending Ronnie Scott’s. This is not a great problem, especially when the opening gig of the year had the sound and quality playing of the future of jazz, when the National Youth Jazz Orchestra displayed their wide talents to sold out audiences. There are some seriously good musicians in the band, both boys and girls who will undoubtedly make names for themselves in and for years to come in the jazz world. Ronnie’s again, a week later for the attractive Carleen Anderson, with soul and jazz freely flowing from her well trained vocals, plus some neat work at the piano to add to the delight. This goddaughter of James Brown gave yet another performance he would have been proud of. A Hammond organ on stage at Ronnie’s, with Larry Goldings seated at it, plus Peter Bernstein on guitar and Bill Stewart with drums, then you know you have a really fine group. The audience, sold out, were delighted. Within a week, another top band, this time led by one of my favourite alto players, Vincent Herring, plus Eric Alexander (ts), Harold Mabern (p) (a pleasure for me to see him for the first time), Joris Dudli (d) and Milan Nikolic (b). Two nights later, Brazilian keyboard legend Eumir Deodato came to Ronnie’s with a first class, mainly British, big band. The desire from the packed audience to get up and dance was obvious. The next week in the club, the bar area was completely full of drummers, all desperate to see Manu Katché, French Ivorian drum hero. Opening with pieces from his new ECM CD, he was backed by Tore Brunborg (sax), Jim Hart (p), and Luca Aquino (tp). An exciting evening! More Brazilian magic from Ronnie’s when another legendary South American stepped on stage. Renowned singer-composer-guitarist Milton Nascimento, backed by a quintet featuring Widor Santiago (sax, fl), yet again, more desire from the audience to "get up and dance”. Breaking away from Ronnie’s, only a short distance up the road to the Pizza Express, for top US reeds man Walter Smith III, with a nice group including Matthew Stevens (g). Down to Ronnie’s the same night to finish the month with the charm of Michel Legrand and his trio. His charming smile and music lit up the room.
 February began at the Vortex, in North London, with a most interesting band, most of whom I had never had the pleasure of seeing or photographing. This is always a great delight for me. The ICP Orchestra, with Misha Mengelberg (p), Tobias Delius (ts), Ab Baars (cl), Thomas Heberer (tp), Wolter Wierbos (tb), Tristan Honsinger (vc), all unknown to me till then, plus more familiar faces such as Hans Bennink (dm), Mary Oliver (vl) and Michael Moore (cl). Altogether a wonderful evening with shades of both Ellington and Monk, most enjoyable. Jazz, soul and funk from keyboards in Ronnie Scott’s means that Lonnie Liston Smith and his "Cosmic Echoes” are in town, backed by Scott Ambush (b), Lee Pearson (dm) and Samir Moulay (g) while over to the charming Wigmore Hall, normally a cultural room for classical chamber music, four very fine jazz musicians played their own version of chamber jazz. With two pianos, Guillermo Klein and Aaron Goldberg, plus Chris Cheek and Miguel Zenon, switching around on various saxes, baritone, tenor, alto, soprano and flute, they produced a most pleasurable evening. The Purcell Room played host to the rapidly rising star of pianist Vijay Iyer and his trio, with Marcus Gilmore (dm) and Stephan Crump (b). Fascinating to watch as to listen to. Once he begins, he seems to be totally immersed in himself, I hope he enjoys it all as much as his audiences. Jamaican born RnB and soul performer Ruby Turner got the hands clapping and the feet tapping in Ronnie Scott’s before going to the Barbican for an evening of great joy from the piano maestro Ahmad Jamal, who never disappoints and never fails to demonstrate his class. More Latin percussion in Ronnie Scott’s, when Machito Jr came as the featured guest of the Dizzy Gillespie Afro Cuban Experience, led by bassist John Lee, who has worked with Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach and McCoy Tyner amongst many other top names.
A few days later, the wonderful Cedar Walton brought the piano in Ronnie’s to life, with his excellent quartet of David Williams on bass (super to watch him almost dancing while he plays!), Willie Jones III (dm) and Piero Odorici (ts). Cedar is such a charming and unpretentious man who gave an evening of sheer delight to the sold out audience. These days, almost every evening in Ronnie Scott’s is sold out, so if you want to go, get on the phone early! This also applied to a week’s booking of master drummer Billy Cobham, founder member, with John McLaughlin, of the Mahavishnu Orchestra. His current sextet includes French guitarist Jean-Marie Ecay and Junior Gill a virtuoso on steelpans. All great stuff. UK Award winning alto sax star Soweto Kinch demonstrated his prodigious talents in Ronnie’s and believe me, talents he really has. His trio included Shaney Forbes (dm) and Nick Jurd (b). Yet again, Ronnie Scott’s go Latin. This time with a great booking of legendary Cuban trumpeter Arturo Sandoval. His suitcase must be full and heavy, with six Billboard Awards, six Grammy and one Emmy. Not a bit of free space in the room for his terrific show. Finishing an exciting month in the 606 Club, again with great pleasure to see and photograph for the first time flautist Eddie Parker, backed by Steve Watts (g) and Kit Downes (p). It turned out to be a charming way to end my day and the month.
David Sinclair (text & photos)
Photo: ICP Orchestra at Vortex, February 2, 2013
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