An impressive performance of jazz and classical and a wonderful way to start the week
On a Monday night a sold-out show at Ronnie Scott’s upstairs, with low lighting, elegant decor, napkins on table, velvety seating and an impressive drinks menu, Lizzie Ball and James Pearson take you on a journey where jazz and classical blend seamlessly. Parisian, Brazilian and cinematic-esque music fills the entire room, and Ronnie Scott’s Classical All Stars comes to life.
You don’t have to know much about the history of this venue, nor be familiar with classical or jazz to appreciate the evening. There were a few pieces which sounded familiar and probably had been used in a film/show/advert, but the addition of the classical element to these pieces put a different spin on things.
The show’s focus was on George Gershwin and his connections to some of the greatest musicians of the 20th century and the impact that he had on both classical and jazz artists such as Stephane Grappelli and Yehudi Menuhin.
On the playlist tonight, we were delighted with pieces such as-George Gershwin-The man I love, Fritz Kreisler-Liebesleid, Django Reinhardt-Nuages to name a few. What was particularly enjoyable and informative was a brief explanation about each piece and the background/context, which for some who may or may not be familiar with the piece, it added a little extra detail rather than the pieces just being played. The touch of audience engagement made the show feel a little more personal and brought the audience together.
The talent that was on stage was incredible, and it is hard to not get swept up in the music. Even if you are not an avid listener of jazz or classical, you would still enjoy this performance because it is so encaptivating. Personally, it would have been nice to have a brief break. As enjoyable as it was, just having 10 minutes to recentre and refresh would’ve been good, but people did come and go as they pleased so it wasn’t like you had to sit down for the duration.
This journey of jazz meets classical was wonderful, and whilst the audience were older, the all star performances are definitely something you should see. They seem to be a fairly regular show and one that is very enjoyable. I already looked to see what was upcoming at Ronnie Scott’s and their night at the movies has sold out sadly, but it goes to show that they can curate a variety of music and looking through what was on, there are many great sounding shows. A fantastic way to start the week!