PHILIP HARPER SEXTET
From first tasting fame as one of the ’80’s “Young Lions” and co-leader of the acclaimed Harper Brothers Quintet, trumpeter Philip Harper has always kept great company.
He apprenticed with organ master Jimmy McGriff, then spent two years with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. Following the Harper Brothers, he played with giants Benny Golson and Cedar Walton and joined the Mingus Big Band. He’s made over 50 recordings and constantly tours both here and in Europe.
The Band: Philip Harper ~ trumpet & vocals | Rico Jones ~ tenor saxophone | Raphael Silverman ~ guitar | Maki Nientao ~ piano | Jason Maximo Clotter ~ bass | David Hawkins ~ drums
Tickets: $30.00 Student | $35.00 Adult +fee for both
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JOHNATHAN BLAKE
Drummer-composer Johnathan Blake returns to Ronnie Scott’s with music from his powerful new Blue Note album My Life Matters. Originally commissioned by The Jazz Gallery, the suite is both personal and political – a reflection on racial injustice, resilience, and family legacy. With themes that resonate deeply in today’s world, the music moves between contemplation and confrontation, anchored by Blake’s unmistakable rhythmic voice.
Heralded by NPR as the ultimate modernist, the Philadelphia-raised Johnathan Blake has been one of the most creative drummers of recent times, backing up heavyweights from the Mingus Big Band, Pharoah Sanders, Q-Tip and Dr. Lonnie Smith, to post-bop innovators Tom Harrell, Maria Schneider and countless other distinctive voices.
The Band: John Ellis ~ saxophone, ewi | Fabian Almazan ~ piano, electronics | Jalen Baker ~ vibraphone | Ben Street ~ bass
Cover: £40 – £55 | $40.96 ~ $64.36
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RONNIE SCOTT’S ALL STARS
It has been named jazz’s greatest year. There was definitely something in the air in 1959, and it wasn’t just NASA: Castro took over Cuba, Buddy Holly died in a plane crash, Pan Am started regular flights around the world, and NASA sent 7 astronauts into space.
Ronnie Scott’s, of course, was founded in 1959. The idea of opening a jazz club along the lines of the intimate and bustling venues of New York’s 52nd Street was hatched by two ardent jazz fans who happened to be very much part of a burgeoning modern jazz movement of the late fifties: tenor saxophonist Ronnie Scott who had since the late forties, wowed the bebop brigade in a series of bands commencing with the nine-piece which featured his business partner to be and fellow saxophonist Pete King.
Three greats of jazz died – Lester Young, Billie Holiday and Sidney Bechet but born out of so much world turmoil were a spate of jazz masterpieces.
In March, Miles Davis created the definitive jazz album in A Kind of Blue. In May, Charles Mingus released an album called Mingus Ah Um – possibly his definitive album. Also in May, Ornette Coleman’s album The Shape of Jazz To Come became ‘the genesis of avant-garde jazz’, and John Coltrane recorded Giant Steps from May to December.
What Miles did for harmonic shifts, The Dave Brubeck Quartet did for rhythmic innovations with Time Out, challenging the acceptable 4/4 and 3/4 time signatures and even creating the hit Take Five with their 5/4 time signature.
Having spent eight months in the Miles Davis Quintet, Bill Evans released Portrait in Jazz in December with Paul Motian and Scott LaFaro, often regarded as one of the greatest jazz trios.
In the show, you can expect to hear a sample of music from all of these genre-defining jazz classics performed by the unmatched Ronnie Scott’s All Stars.
Line-up
Freddie Gavita ~ trumpet
Alex Garnett ~ saxophone
James Pearson ~ piano
Sam Burgess ~ bass
Sebastian de Krom ~ drums
Tickets: £35 ~ £55 | $40.96 ~ $64.36
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ETHAN IVERSON SEXTET
Ethan Iverson avoids technical excess as his improvisations unfold sparely in his right hand, usually with very little or no emphasis on his left hand. He plays deliberately, nurturing his ideas sometimes in unhurried quarter notes or eighth notes…Iverson stretches tonality through single lines, which grow more adventurous the longer they unfold.
The Band: Sam Newsome – Saxophone | Johnathan Finlayson – Trumpet | Jacob Garchik – Trombone | Ethan Iverson – Piano | Peter Washington – Bass | Kush Abadey – Drums
Cover: $40.00 + fee
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Peter Ecklund was born on September 27, 1945 in Woodbridge, Connecticut. In 1967 he received a degree from Yale University.
He went on tour with singer Paula Lockheart and started a jazz band. Additionally, he worked with many pop and rock bands in the 1970s and 1980s. He became a substitute for the Nighthawks Orchestra led by Vince Giordano and a member of the Orphan Newboys led by Marty Grosz.
He recorded six albums as a leader and another forty-five with David Bromberg, Marty Grosz, Geoff Muldaur, Leon Redbone, Paul Butterfield, Doveman, Bob Dylan, Howard Fishman, Steve Forbert, Gloria Gaynor, Steve Goodman, Hello People, Ian & Sylvia & the Great Speckled Bird, Keith Ingham, Michael Jerling, George McCrae, Martin Mull, Alex Pangman, Bonnie Raitt, Tom Sancton, Cynthia Sayer, Johnny Shines, Paul Siebel, Siegel–Schwall Band, Eric Von Schmidt, Andrea True Connection, Terry Waldo, Loudon Wainwright III, and Mitch Woods.
Cornetist Peter Ecklund died on April 8, 2020 from Parkinson’s disease.
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