[Dixielandjazz] Ronnie Scott's

[Graham Martin]

Richard Stevens quoted ..............

["(Sally) Greene has gone into partnership with Pete King who co-founded the club with Scott and has looked after the place since his death. The changes she hopes to bring to the place include a decent menu, the possibility of performances by her close friend Bill Clinton and professional Ray Charles impersonator Jamie Fox, and, who knows, Kevin Spacey might also be tempted to bang out a couple of old Bobby Darrin songs, although we might be busy that night."
............The Londonist"]

regards,
Richard Stevens
www.thejazzfactory.net 

 

Good Grief! I'm glad I'm 'busy every night' in Oz on a permanent basis these days. 

 

Do Bill, Jamie and Kevin get to have their profile pictures hung alongside the jazz greats? Actually, I wonder if the pictures are still there?



Seriously, I don't think we are getting the true picture of events in that quote from the Londonist which you can read here:



http://www.londonist.com/archives/2005/02/ronnie_scotts_n.php



The Ronnie Scott's club website probably presents a better overall picture. And a statement from Pete King and Sally Greene which sounds very constructive for the future:



http://www.ronniescotts.co.uk/ronnie_scotts/ronniescotts/156/09.htm

 

On the subject of the menu they are thinking of improving, I thought it was not that bad in the old days, although the laconic proprietor was not always so complimentary about it, or the staff:

 

"In the meantime our waiters and waitresses will be ready to take you . . . er, to take care of you. Wonderful waitresses here at the club. Roy tells me there are eight. I've only seen three, but . oh, one of our waitresses is moving, a very rare sight. That's Rosy, Hello Rosy. Hello ROSY. Sorry about last night. Where are you working next week? That's Rosy, she comes from Scunthorpe. Very nice town, very quiet, very peaceful. I spent a wonderful fortnight there one Sunday. When we got there it was closed. If more than three people stand together they think it's a riot. It's the kind of town where you turn on your electric toothbrush and the streetlights dim. Wake up in the morning you can hear the birds . . . coughing. Even the birds fly upside down - nothing worth shittin' on. But it's great. Jesus Christ was almost born in Scunthorpe, but the couldn't find three wise men - or a virgin.

 

Then there's the kitchen staff. Incidentally, the food here is great. Bit expensive. I think it's cheaper to eat the money. But it's great. Top breeders recommend it. We never get complaints about the food. A few people throwing up from time to time but - no complaints. After all, three million flies can't be wrong. Our chef is great. Great. How can you fuck up cornflakes?"

 

Etc. etc. Actually, I was always convinced that Ronnie got his scripts from Max Wall or Arthur English. 

  

(The above is quoted without permission from the book written by Kitty Grime called "Jazz at Ronnie Scott's" and published by Robert Hale Limited.)

 

Strangely enough, only last week I was talking to one of the diners at a regular gig my band does in an Indian restaurant (Don't ask! But you may insert your own Goon humour) and she said what a great club was Ronnie Scott's, how good was the food, and what a nice guy Ronnie was. On one night that she attended, she found a wallet containing over $500 under one of the tables and, being a bit loath to hand it over to the bar staff, she asked to speak to the Manager. She was a bit surprised when a few minutes later Ronnie Scott himself came out of the office. Ronnie thanked her sincerely and took her to meet Blossom Dearie who was appearing that night and who our friend had specifically gone to the club to see. She spent over half an hour with Blossom and Ronnie and as a result is the greatest fan of Ronnie Scott's Club there has ever been. And still talking about it and her experience many years later! BTW, she comes to our gig specifically to hear the jazz but also likes the great food from the only Indian Balti restaurant in Australia.  

 

Myself, I have fond memories of the original Ronnie Scott's in that grubby basement in Gerrard Street and it is very unlikely that I will visit the new club under Sally Greene's proprietorship. I wish her luck though! She sounds like one heck of a pushy lady and perhaps jazz needs a few more like her.



Best,



Grah   

 

Graham Martin
Email: grahmartin at bigpond.com
Website: http://tromjazz.netfirms.com
REDLAND BAY
Queensland
AUSTRALIA