Jazz breaking news: Hiromi, Avishai Cohen And Joe Lovano/Dave Douglas Soundprints Quintet Roll Up To Ronnie’s This Autumn
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Ronnie’s Scott’s is packing in the big names between now and November as the club plays host to a swathe of strong bookings.
After this month’s tourist-friendly ‘Olympic Classic Jazz Series’, left-field fusion guitar favourite Wayne Krantz (20-21 August) and ‘Green Onions’ keyboard legend Booker T Jones (22-24 August) usher in a series of exciting gigs. September sees the return of renowned gypsy jazz guitarist Biréli Lagrène (10- 12 Sept) who last performed there in 2010, plus Chicago-born pianist/singer Patricia Barber who performs for two nights (17-18 Sept). October marks the return of hyper-virtuoso pianist Hiromi (pictured) with her Trio Project band featuring a rocket-fuelled rhythm section of bass ace Anthony Jackson and firecracker drum maestro Steve Smith (4-6 Oct).
Israeli bass boss Avishai Cohen also makes a return visit after last year’s explosive trio dates, once again with his young Seven Seas band that includes the classical/folk inspired piano work of Omri Mor and frenetic drumming of Amir Bresler (15-17 Oct). Tenor titan Joe Lovano and leading trumpeter Dave Douglas’ debut their new Soundprints Quintet that also includes pianist Lawrence Fields, drummer Joey Baron and emerging bass star Linda Oh (18-19 Oct). They play new arrangements of Wayne Shorter’s music, many of which were created in direct collaboration with the sax legend. Maverick US post-jazz trio The Bad Plus bring their punchy post-jazz rock, pop and indie-inspired set to Ronnie’s for two nights (23-24 Oct), while drummer Steve Smith is back again for two nights with his popular Vital Information quartet (25-26 Oct). And if that wasn’t enough a trio of top jazz divas – Stacey Kent (29 Oct-2 Nov), Dianne Reeves (5-6 Nov), and Dee Dee Bridgewater (15-17 Nov) – and a rare residency from the mighty Mingus Big Band (Nov 26-Dec 1) – keep things swinging right into autumn.
Other highlights include: Claire Martin & Sir Richard Rodney Bennett (3-4 Sept); Jay Phelps Big Band feat. Claire Teal (5-6 Sept); Jason Rebello Band (9 Sept); Frank Sinatra Jnr Sings Sinatra (13-15 Sept); Funmi Olawumi (23 Sept); Banda Black Rio (24-25 Sept); John Williams & John Etheridge (26-27 Sept); Ian Shaw with the Phil Ware Trio + Special Guest Guy Barker (28-29 Sept); Alison Moyet (8-10 Oct); Soulive (11-13 Oct); Nathan Haines (21-22 Oct); Terence Blanchard (8-9 Nov) and Mario Biondi (Nov 19-24).
For more go to www.ronniescotts.co.uk
– Mike Flynn