British jazz stars like the trumpeter Gerard Presencer were there, as were a bevy of beautiful things the like of which are not so regularly seen in the capital's jazz clubs. Upstairs, mojitos were still being served at 1am in the soon-to-be-opened private members' club. Downstairs, there was dancing to a crooner and big band. Four months after Ronnie Scott's reopened after a £2.5m refurbishment, theatrical impresario Sally Greene was throwing a party to celebrate her purchase last year of Britain's premier jazz club, and with great justification.
Ronnie's has certainly changed. Gone is the faded decor (several jazz musicians half-inched the table lamps on the night before the club closed for refitting) and the crummy menu. In place is a plush new seating area (the only grumble about which is that the tables in the booths are too
|
|
  |
|
|
 |
|
Better decor, better food, and really good jazz. Ronnie Scott’s is back with a bang, says sholto byrnes
|
|
|
close to the banquettes for those of a fuller figure), and decent food.
Above all, though, the club is about jazz, and here the artistic director, Leo Green, deserves full credit. It's been many years since Ronnie's put on names such as the Marsalis brothers, Chick Corea and Van Morrison on a regular basis. He's also lured very talented US-based players like the trumpeter Claudio Roditi and pianists Kenny Barron and the Oscar Peterson protege Benny Green (no relation).
Yes, the prices have gone up, and sometimes there are two houses a night. But this is standard practice in New York clubs, and overdue here. And it's well worth paying extra to hear great performers in an intimate club setting. Raise a glass to Sally Greene: she has done no less than secure the future of Ronnie Scott's. 
FIRST POSTED NOVEMBER 2, 2006
We are playing Green's Blues from Benny Green's CD "Green's Blues", available from Telarc
 And on piano, Wolfgang Amadeus
London's coolest jazz venues
 More from our music file
 Sign up for our arts email
|
