Cleveland Watkiss Joins Julian Joseph For First Night Of Brit-Jazz Festival At Ronnie’s
Monday, August 3, 2009
The Ronnie Scott’s Brit-Jazz Festival opened with a sold out double bill at the weekend, the first of the 15-day festival that continues until 15 August featuring many of the leading lights and some of the freshest talent on the burgeoning UK jazz scene.
Pianist Julian Joseph and his trio headlined and his first set of the evening included Chick Corea’s ‘La Fiesta’ and in an addition to the bill was joined by singer Cleveland Watkiss who sang from Joseph’s jazz opera Bridgetower: A Fable of 1807. Joseph revealed to the audience that he is working on a new opera. He was performing at the club with Mark Hodgson, nimble and propulsive on bass and the hugely energetic and expansive Mark Mondesir, drums. Joseph concluded his set with an intricate version of Gershwin’s ‘Nice Work If You Can Get It’, challenging the audience to work out which Gershwin song it was.
It was Joseph's first headlining performance in Ronnie’s this year, he told the audience, and on this occasion was supported by young singer Polly Gibbons with club artistic director James Pearson on piano, Arnie Somogyi, bass and Chris Dagley, drums.
The Brit-jazz festival continues tonight with the Gareth Lockrane Big Band led by highly rated young flautist Lockrane and the soulful Ross Stanley Organ Trio. The Brit-jazz festival at Ronnie Scott’s is sponsored by Jazzwise.
To book and for more info go to www.ronniescotts.co.uk