Ronnie Scotts and Soho

it’s amazing how the simple things in life, like seeing a few friends, being able to sit in a cafe and hug your daughter have become so appreciated. But how lovely to be able to go and sit in Ronnie Scotts and see a live band. We did exactly that last Thursday and what a treat it was. Reuben James and his fellow artists wooed and entertained us reminding us how amazing it is to see someone in person and not just on a screen. The only advantage to the few rules that are left with the pandemic, is that you have more space around you, there is no crowding and everyone seems to be so patient with queuing and waiting around…… Seating was evenly spaced, so that the venue still looked full. If you get a chance then I would put Ronnie Scotts high on your list.

Afterwards, we walked through Soho, its streets lined with tables and chairs, and canopies to shield the rain and sun – so continental – it WAS busy, but it didnt feel chaotic. You can avoid the really busy streets if you still feel a bit aware. we ate in Wun’s tearoom, and managed to get a table inside without a booking – there are so many restaurants to choose from, you can take a chance and you can definitely get a table outside in most of the popular restaurants. We just felt a bit cold with that wind… and perhaps its just us getting older that we feel the cold more. we had never eaten in Wuns Tearoom, but we can recommend it as somewhere to get quick tasty food. Think Chinese Tapas….. and I loved what the waitresses wore, lovely striped cheongsam dresses with velvet jackets.

Let’s hope that everything remains open and that the weather gets better……

jazz and peking opera

i am lucky that my husband’s job involves listening to music cos it means that we get to see so many fantastic musicians! last night we saw the amazing Cecile McLorin Salvant at ronnie scotts; i was never a big jazz fan, but slowly i am being won over – all my husband’s jazz muso friends are now so busy or away that i have become his new jazz partner.  Cecile’s choice of songs were beautiful and strong ballads, harking back to early black songs reminiscent of Harlem or of times of slavery – her gentle but powerful voice expressed perfectly the words, the irony….   there is a humorous tongue in cheek aspect with some of the songs, in particular ‘wives and lovers’

Hey, little girl, comb your hair, fix your make-up
Soon he will open the door
Don’t think because there’s a ring on your finger
You needn’t try any more
For wives should always be lovers too
Run to his arms the moment he comes home to you
I’m warning you

Day after day, there are girls at the office
And the men will always be men
Don’t stand him up with your hair still in curlers
You may not see him again
Wives should always be lovers too
Run to his arms the moment he comes home to you
He’s almost here

Burt Bacharach and Hal David

its strange to compare jazz and the blues to Chinese opera, but I have just experienced both in the space of a few days – very very different but in some ways so similar.  the discordant notes,  the tinkle and clash of music, the highs and lows, the emphatic expression, the drama, the gentleness, the sweetness……  we went to the Temple theatre , one of the oldest Hutong theatres to see a version of Farewell my Concubine – an experience worth visiting.  the theatre was very small, but beautifully formed with only about 12 rows – there was a long thin platform that the actors strolled down, interacting with the audience even more – you could see every detail on their elaborate costumes and make up – its an animated performance with dancelike movements, singing, live musicians and just in case you don’t understand, there are English subtitles on a screen discreetly at the side of the stage.  so like jazz, its an intimate engagement with the audience – such a different experience to the grand old opera houses that you are used to seeing.

my favourite track of the night was ‘wild women don’t have the blues’ – if you get a chance to see Cecile perform then do book  – its an unforgettable night. 

I hear these women raving ’bout their monkey men
About their trifling¹ husbands and their no good friends
These poor women sit around all day and moan
Wondering why their wandering papa’s don’t come home
But wild women don’t worry, wild women don’t have no bluesNow when you’ve got a man, don’t never be on the square
‘Cause if you do he’ll have a woman everywhere
I never was known to treat no one man right
I keep ’em working hard both day and night
‘Cause wild women don’t worry, wild women don’t have their bluesI’ve got a disposition and a way of my own
When my man starts kicking I let him find another home
I get full of good liquor, walk the streets all night
Go home and put my man out if he don’t act right
Wild women don’t worry, wild women don’t have their bluesYou never get nothing by being an angel child
You better change your ways and get real wild
I wanna tell you something, I wouldn’t tell you a lie
Wild women are the only kind that really get by
‘Cause wild women don’t worry, wild women don’t have their blues
Ida Cox. 1924

 

life in the Hutong alleyways….

curtis stigers

what a lovely intro into xmas – we all know its about to come – how fast has this year flown, it seems to just be here with any notice this year.  we saw the late show at Ronnie Scotts, Curtis Stigers.  he sings beautifully and with so much charm and charisma – has a great sense of humour too.  he did a lot of xmas songs, and a few other classics.  he sings Sinatra, which is a hard act to follow,  perfect for any occasion.

 

love this frank sinatra song

the way you look tonight.

Some day, when I’m awfully low
When the world is cold
I will feel a glow just thinking of you
And the way you look tonight

Yes you’re lovely, with your smile so warm
And your cheeks so soft
There is nothing for me but to love you
And the way you look tonight

With each word your tenderness grows
Tearing my fear apart

And that laugh that wrinkles your nose
It touches my foolish heart

Lovely, never, ever change
Keep that breathless charm
Won’t you please arrange it?
‘Cause I love you, just the way you look tonight

Mm, mm, mm, mm
Just the way you look tonight

 

kurt elling

i am lucky that my husband’s job involves listening to music cos it means that we get to see so many fantastic musicians! last night we saw the charismatic Kurt Elling at ronnie scotts; i am not a big jazz fan, but slowly i am being won over – all my husband’s jazz muso friends are now so busy or away that i have become his new jazz partner.  sadly all the tickets are sold out for the last performance tonight, but its just a wonderful night out at ronnie’s, listening to music in an intimate and cosy space, takes you back to those dusky nightclub days of the 1930’s.   Could be a great xmas present, a pair of tickets for an up and coming event?  another favourite place is nell’s jazz and blues and of course locally there is camden jazz cafe.  i recently saw maxwell at O2 and although he was a great performer, you dont feel that the whole experience of going to hear music is as enjoyable.

i always loved these art installations at last years frieze fair, they conjure up some jazz aficionado

 

monty alexander

i am lucky that my husband’s job involves listening to music cos it means that we get to see so many fantastic musicians!  this week we saw the charismatic monty alexander at ronnie scotts;  i am not a big jazz fan, but slowly i am being won over – all my husband’s jazz miso friends are now so busy or away that i have become his new jazz partner.  i love seeing musicians in ronnies – such a lovely intimate experience.  my favourite song he performed was ‘in the wee small hours of the morning’ – did somewhat make me feel that i have a long way to go with my piano lessons………

“In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning”

In the wee small hours of the morning,
While the whole wide world is fast asleep,
You lie awake and think about the girl
And never, ever think of counting sheep.

When your lonely heart has learned its lesson,
You’d be hers if only she would call,
In the wee small hours of the morning,
That’s the time you miss her most of all.

When your lonely heart has learned its lesson,
You’d be hers if only she would call,
In the wee small hours of the morning,
That’s the time you miss her most of all.

Frank Sinatra

curtis stigers

what a mad evening in soho, london pride was so colourful, atmospheric and incredibly busy – it was amazing to watch people celebrating the streets all day and through to the late hours;  we popped into ronnie scotts to see the charismatic Curtis Stigers and his band – hard to believe that you can step from the eccentricity of soho into the wonderful rendezvous of Ronnie Scotts – its my favourite venue for listening to music, so intimate and back to old time glamour of an old style jazz nightclub – long may it survive.   if you missed Curtis this time he is playing the Edinburgh jazz festival  in July.

 

nells jazz and blues

we recently saw Van Morrison in this new jazz club, Nell’s jazz & blues in west london – it was a lovely venue to see a band, quite like ronnie scotts – more intimate and enjoyable.  i have to confess that  i didn’t know much about van morrison’s music and this year i have seen him twice and thought he was brilliant.  i guess that i was lucky as both times he was not so grumpy – people had warned me that he can be difficult on stage.

you can’t beat being in soho, just opposite ronnie scotts is ceviche  peruvian restaurant – bob had heard great things about this restaurant, but i didnt think that the food was great –  its definitely a fun, noisy, tapas style sharing place for young people though.   after a cappuccino in the great bar italia, (so atmospheric makes you feel that you are in italy as you stand by the bar watching italian tv),  pop into the bar upstairs at ronnie scotts to listen to some impromptu jazz – wednesday evenings is great, anyone can turn up and join in the jazz session, whether you are a new budding saxophonist or an experienced dab hand at the piano – apparently some of the famous musicians have been known to join in after their gig downstairs.   its a great place for all ages.

matthew halsall

went to see the talented matthew halsall at ronnie scotts recently – i am not a big jazz fan, but robert seems to know the type of jazz that i would enjoy.  with a harpist, japanese koto and japanese flute, the unusual sound mix created a more folk like jazz.  i love going to ronnie scotts – its such a civilised way to hear music.

it was lovely to drive the windy roads of cornwall listening to jazz, passing the tunnels of trees and the river malpas.

an amazing afternoon

it was 3 hours of fun, tears, laughter, music and reminiscing!  the guests were amazing, especially gilbert and george who had me in stitches!  you can listen again for the next week, dont miss out on hearing the wonderful phone call from eilleen (2 hours 30 mins in).    ronnie scotts was the perfect place to hold this memorable show – nick lowe’s rendition of alison (2 hours 18 mins in) silenced the whole room so that you could hear a pin drop.  you can listen again for the next 6 days.

going to ronnie scotts again reminded me what a lovely evening out it is to sit and listen to some live music – especially in an intimate space. i personally cant bear to go to venues like O2 anymore. if you are young (or not even young) and into jazz, and want to see up and coming new artists, then go upstairs to ronnies bar – its inexpensive and you get to hear great jazz from the newest jazz musicians.

ronnie scotts for an impromptu jazz session

so my soho living stint is over and i am back at home – i have to admit, i didn’t think that i would love living so centrally, but i loved the daily buzz and access to everywhere on my doorstep – camden all of a sudden feels very suburban!

our last night in soho was spent trying out peruvian food at ceviche – bob had heard great things about this restaurant, but i didnt think that it was great.  its definitely a fun, noisy, tapas style sharing place for young people though.   after a cappuccino in the great bar italia, (so atmospheric makes you feel that you are in italy as you stand by the bar watching italian tv), we  popped into the bar upstairs at ronnie scotts to listen to some impromptu jazz – wednesday evenings is great, anyone can turn up and join in the jazz session, whether you are a new budding saxophonist or an experienced dab hand at the piano – apparently some of the famous musicians have been known to join in after their gig downstairs.   alfie and alice loved it, so its not just one for the old ones.