Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club is a jazz club that has operated in Soho, London, since 1959.

History

The club opened on 30 October 1959 in a basement at 39 Gerrard Street in London's Soho district. It was set up and managed by musicians Ronnie Scott and

Pete King Pete or Petes or ''variation'', may refer to: People * Pete (given name) * Pete (nickname) * Pete (surname) Fictional characters * Pete (Disney), a cartoon character in the ''Mickey Mouse'' universe * Pete the Pup (a.k.a. 'Petey'), a character ( ...

. In 1965 it moved to a larger venue nearby at 47

Frith Street Frith Street is in the Soho area of London. To the north is Soho Square and to the south is Shaftesbury Avenue. The street crosses Old Compton Street, Bateman Street and Romilly Street. History Frith Street was laid out in the late 1670s an ...

. The original venue continued in operation as the "Old Place" until the lease ran out in 1967, and was used for performances by the up-and-coming generation of musicians. Zoot Sims was the club's first transatlantic visitor in 1962, and was succeeded by many others (often saxophonists whom Scott and King, tenor saxophonists themselves, admired, such as Johnny Griffin,

Lee Konitz Leon Konitz (October 13, 1927 – April 15, 2020) was an American composer and alto saxophonist. He performed successfully in a wide range of jazz styles, including bebop, cool jazz, and avant-garde jazz. Konitz's association with the cool jazz ...

Sonny Rollins Walter Theodore "Sonny" Rollins (born September 7, 1930) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist who is widely recognized as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians. In a seven-decade career, he has recorded over sixty albums as a ...

and

Sonny Stitt Edward Hammond Boatner Jr. (February 2, 1924 – July 22, 1982), known professionally as Sonny Stitt, was an American jazz saxophonist of the bebop/hard bop idiom. Known for his warm tone, he was one of the best-documented saxophonists of his ...

) in the years that followed. Many UK jazz musicians were also regularly featured, including Tubby Hayes and Dick Morrissey who would both drop in for jam sessions with the visiting stars. In the mid-1960s, Ernest Ranglin was the house guitarist. The club's house pianist until 1967 was Stan Tracey. For nearly 30 years it was home of a Christmas residency to George Melly and John Chilton's Feetwarmers. In 1978, the club established the label Ronnie Scott's Jazz House, which issued both live performances from the club and new recordings. Scott regularly acted as the club's Master of Ceremonies, and was known for his repertoire of jokes, asides and one-liners. After Scott's death in 1996, King continued to run the club for a further nine years, before selling the club to theatre impresario Sally Greene and philanthropist Michael Watt in June 2005. In 2009, Ronnie Scott's was named by the Brecon Jazz Festival as one of 12 venues that had made the most important contributions to jazz in the United Kingdom, and finished third in the voting for the initial award.

Jimi Hendrix James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942September 18, 1970) was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most ...

's last public performance was at Ronnie Scott's, in 1970.

House musicians

Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club, Frith Street, Soho, London (geograph 4001868)

Many of the visiting musicians appearing at Ronnie Scott's were soloists touring without their own rhythm section, or were touring as members of larger bands and they often used the house band to accompany them. On occasions, the house musicians coincided with the members of the various bands that Ronnie Scott led at one time or another.

Drums

* Phil Seamen – house drummer from 1964 to 1968 * Allan Ganley – house drummer from 1964 to 1967, ::backing visiting Americans such as

Stan Getz Stanley Getz (February 2, 1927 – June 6, 1991) was an American jazz saxophonist. Playing primarily the tenor saxophone, Getz was known as "The Sound" because of his warm, lyrical tone, with his prime influence being the wispy, mellow timbre of ...

Art Farmer Arthur Stewart Farmer (August 21, 1928 – October 4, 1999) was an American jazz trumpeter and flugelhorn player. He also played flumpet, a trumpet–flugelhorn combination especially designed for him. He and his identical twin brother, double ...

and Roland Kirk * Tony Oxley – house drummer from 1966 until the early 1970s. ::Accompanied

Joe Henderson Joe Henderson (April 24, 1937 – June 30, 2001) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. In a career spanning more than four decades, Henderson played with many of the leading American players of his day and recorded for several prominent l ...

, Charlie Mariano,

and

Bill Evans William John Evans (August 16, 1929 – September 15, 1980) was an American jazz pianist and composer who worked primarily as the leader of his trio. His use of impressionist harmony, interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, block ch ...

. *

Martin Drew Martin Drew (11 February 1944 – 29 July 2010) was an English jazz drummer who played with Ronnie Scott between 1975 and 1995 and with Oscar Peterson between 1974 and 2007. Career Martin Drew was born on 11 February 1944 in Northampton, Engla ...

– house drummer from 1975 to 1995 * Mark Fletcher - house drummer from 1994 to 2006 *

Chris Dagley Chris is a short form of various names including Christopher, Christian, Christina, Christine, and Christos. Chris is also used as a name in its own right, however it is not as common. People with the given name *Chris Abani (born 1966), Nige ...

– house drummer from 2006 to 2010 *

Pedro Segundo Pedro is a masculine given name. Pedro is the Spanish, Portuguese, and Galician name for '' Peter''. Its French equivalent is Pierre while its English and Germanic form is Peter. The counterpart patronymic surname of the name Pedro, meani ...

– house drummer since 2010 * Chris Higginbottom – house drummer since 2012

Keyboards

* Eddie Thompson – house pianist 1959–60 * Stan Tracey – house pianist from March 1960 to 1967/1968 *

John Critchinson John William Frank Critchinson (24 December 1934 – 15 December 2017) also known as "Critch", was an English jazz pianist. Biography Critchinson was born in London in 1934. He worked as a part-time musician with Ronnie Scott, Tubby Hayes, and J ...

– house pianist from 1978 to 1995. ::Accompanied

Chet Baker Chesney Henry "Chet" Baker Jr. (December 23, 1929 – May 13, 1988) was an American jazz trumpeter and vocalist. He is known for major innovations in cool jazz that led him to be nicknamed the "Prince of Cool". Baker earned much attention and ...

, George Coleman, James Moody,

and Johnny Griffin * James Pearson – house pianist since 2006

Bass

* Sam Burgess – house bassist since 2006

Other instruments

* Ernest Ranglin – house guitarist 1964–65.

Other musicians

Other regular performers since 2006 include: *

Al Cherry AL, Al, Ål or al may stand for: Arts and entertainment Fictional characters * Al (''Aladdin'') or Aladdin, the main character in Disney's ''Aladdin'' media * Al (''EastEnders''), a minor character in the British soap opera * Al (''Fullmetal ...

(guitar) * Alan Barnes (sax) * Alec Dankworth *

Alex Garnett Alex is a given name. It can refer to a shortened version of Alexander, Alexandra, Alexis. People Multiple *Alex Brown (disambiguation), multiple people * Alex Gordon (disambiguation), multiple people *Alex Harris (disambiguation), multiple pe ...

(sax) *

Alistair White Alistair is a masculine given name. It is an Anglicised form of the Scottish Gaelic '' Alasdair''. The latter is most likely a Scottish Gaelic variant of the Norman French Alexandre or Latin Alexander, which was incorporated into English in the sa ...

(trombone) *

Arnie Somogyi Arnie is a masculine given name, frequently a shortened version of Arnold. It may refer to: People * Arnie Arenz (1911–1985), American National Football League quarterback in 1934 * Arnie Beyeler (born 1964), American minor league baseball pla ...

(bass) * Dave O'Higgins *

Gary Baldwin Gary may refer to: *Gary (given name), a common masculine given name, including a list of people and fictional characters with the name *Gary, Indiana, the largest city named Gary Places ;Iran *Gary, Iran, Sistan and Baluchestan Province ;Unit ...

(Hammond organ) * Gerard Presencer (trumpet) * James Nisbet (guitar) * Mark Smith (bass) * Matt Home (drums) * Mornington Lockett * Natalie Williams (vocals) *

Nina Ferro Nina may refer to: * Nina (name), a feminine given name and surname Acronyms * National Iraqi News Agency, a news service in Iraq *Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, on the campus of Norwegian University of Science and Technology *No income, ...

* Pete Long (sax) *

Ralph Salmins The Waterboys are a folk rock band formed in Edinburgh in 1983 by Scottish musician Mike Scott. The band's membership, past and present, has been composed mainly of musicians from Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England. Mike Scott has remained ...

(drums) * Steve Fishwick * Steve Rushton (drums)

Record label

In 1978, the club established its own record label, Ronnie Scott's Jazz House. The first release was an album by Scott's quintet. Over the next 20 years, the label gained in prominence, issuing both historic live club performances and new recordings.

Live albums recorded at Ronnie's

* 1963–65: ''Live in London vols 1 & 2'' – Tubby Hayes (taped by Les Tomkins at the Old Place) * 1964: ''Live at Ronnie Scott's'' – Ben Webster * 1964: ''The Punch'' – Ben Webster * 1964/65: '' There and Back'' – The Dick Morrissey Quartet (released 1997). Recorded 27 January 1964/20 August 1965 * 1965: ''

Sonny Stitt / Live at Ronnie Scott's ''Sonny Stitt / Live at Ronnie Scott's'' is the fifth Dick Morrissey Quartet recording. It comprises a jam session with Sonny Stitt recorded live at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, London in 1965. It has also been released on the same label with the ...

'' –

and the Dick Morrissey Quartet. Recorded May 1965 * 1965: ''Live at Ronnie Scott's'' – Wes Montgomery * 1966: '' Blossom Time at Ronnie Scott's'' – Blossom Dearie * 1967: ''

Sweet Blossom Dearie ''Sweet Blossom Dearie'' is a 1967 live album by Blossom Dearie. It is the second album Dearie recorded at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, and is subsequently her second live album to be released. Track listing #"Let's Go Where the Grass is Greener" ...

'' – Blossom Dearie * 1969: ''Volcano...Live at Ronnie's'' – Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band * 1969: ''Rue Chaptal...Live at Ronnie's'' – Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band * 1970: ''Somewhere in Soho'' (also released as ''Live at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club'') –

Soft Machine Soft Machine are a British rock band from Canterbury formed in mid-1966 by Mike Ratledge (keyboards, 1966–1976), Robert Wyatt (drums, vocals, 1966–1971), Kevin Ayers (bass, guitar, vocals, 1966–1968) and Daevid Allen (guitar, 1966–196 ...

* 1971: ''Dynasty (Live at Ronnie Scott's)'' –

* 1972: ''

Rich in London ''Rich in London'' a.k.a. ''Very Alive at Ronnie Scotts'' is a live album by Buddy Rich and his big band, recorded in 1971 at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London. Not to be confused with the 1980 DRG Buddy Rich Big Band recording, '' Live at Ronn ...

'', aka ''Very Alive at Ronnie Scott's'' – Buddy Rich Big Band * 1974: ''

Ella in London ''Ella in London'' is a 1974 live album by Ella Fitzgerald, accompanied by a quartet led by the pianist Tommy Flanagan. It is significant as Fitzgerald's only live album recorded in England, although a decade earlier she had recorded four songs f ...

'' – Ella Fitzgerald * 1975: '' Lee Konitz Meets Warne Marsh Again'' -

and Warne Marsh * 1976: '' Livestock'' - Brand X * 1976: ''

Symphony of Scorpions ''Symphony of Scorpions'' is a live album by composer/bassist Graham Collier featuring eponymous composition recorded at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in 1976 which was originally released on his own Mosaic label in 1977.Graham Collier * 1977: ''

Ronnie Scott's Presents Sarah Vaughan Live ''Ronnie Scott's Presents Sarah Vaughan Live'', also known as ''Sassy at Ronnie's'', is a 1977 live album by American jazz singer Sarah Vaughan. Track listing #Introduction by Ronnie Scott #" Here's That Rainy Day" #"Like Someone in Love" #"Feel ...

'' –

Sarah Vaughan Sarah Lois Vaughan (March 27, 1924 – April 3, 1990) was an American jazz singer. Nicknamed "Sassy" and "Jazz royalty, The Divine One", she won two Grammy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, and was nominated for a total of nine ...

* 1980: ''Complete Live at Ronnie Scott's 1980'' –

* 1980: '' Live at Ronnie Scott's'', aka ''The Man from Planet Jazz'' – Buddy Rich Big Band * 1980: ''Live at Ronnie Scott's – Mike Carr and His Trio Featuring Jim Mullen and Harold Smith'' – Mike Carr * 1980: ''Blues for the Fisherman'' – The

Milcho Leviev Milcho Leviev ( bg, Милчо Левиев ; December 19, 1937 – October 12, 2019) was a Bulgarian composer, arranger, and jazz pianist. Career Leviev was born in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, and graduated from the Bulgarian State Academy of Music in 1 ...

Quartet, featuring

Art Pepper Arthur Edward Pepper Jr. (September 1, 1925 – June 15, 1982) was an American alto saxophonist and very occasional tenor saxophonist and clarinetist. Active in West Coast jazz, Pepper came to prominence in Stan Kenton's big band. He was known ...

* 1980: ''True Blues'' – The Milcho Leviev Quartet, featuring Art Pepper * 1983: ''Live at Ronnie Scott's'' – Weekend * 1984: '' Live at Ronnie Scott's'' – Nina Simone. Recorded 17 November 1984. * 1986: ''Live at Ronnie Scott's'' –

* 1986: ''Live at Ronnie Scott's'' – Chico Freeman * 1986: ''Live at Ronnie Scott's, London'' – Anita O'Day * 1988: '' Live at Ronnie Scott's'' – Curtis Mayfield * 1988: ''I Gotta Right to Sing (live at Ronnie Scott's)'' – Marion Montgomery * 1988: ''Live at Ronnie Scott's'' – Roy Ayers * 1989: '' The London Concert'' – George Russell's Living Time Orchestra * 1990: ''Live at Ronnie's'' – John Dankworth Big Band * 1990: '' Live at Ronnie Scott's'' – Taj Mahal * 1991: ''Felicidad'' – Irakere * 1992: S Wonderful'' – Elaine Delmar * 1992: '' Fourth World: Recorded live at Ronnie Scott's Club'' * 1992: ''Ghostsongs'' – Ian Shaw * 1994: '' Speed Trap'' – Peter King Quintet featuring Gerard Presencer * 1995: ''

How Long Has This Been Going On "How Long Has This Been Going On?" is a song composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin, for the musical ''Funny Face'' in 1927. History According to Ira Gershwin in his book ''Lyrics on Several Occasions'', after the premiere of ...

'' – Van Morrison, Georgie Fame and Pee Wee Ellis. Recorded 3 May 1995. * 1995: '' A Change of Seasons'' –

Dream Theater Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of the ...

* 1997: ''Dolly Bird'' – Liane Carroll * 1998: ''Live at Ronnie Scott's'' – Shakatak * 1998: ''Soho Session'' –

Peter Green Splinter Group The Peter Green Splinter Group were a blues band formed in 1997, fronted by guitarist and singer Peter Green. Green was the leader of Fleetwood Mac until 1970. He suffered a mental breakdown during the 1970s. He was rehabilitated with the aid ...

* 2000: ''Ronnie Scott's Jazz House'' – Arturo Sandoval * 2002: ''Son of Dolly Bird'' – Liane Carroll * 2003: '' Live at Ronnie Scott's'' - Lisa Stansfield * 2004: ''Watts at Scott's'' –

Charlie Watts Charles Robert Watts (2 June 1941 – 24 August 2021) was an English musician who achieved international fame as the drummer of the Rolling Stones from 1963 until his death in 2021. Originally trained as a graphic artist, Watts developed an i ...

Performing This Week...Live at Ronnie Scott's * 2005: ''MF Horn VI – Live at Ronnie's'' –

Maynard Ferguson Walter Maynard Ferguson CM (May 4, 1928 – August 23, 2006) was a Canadian jazz trumpeter and bandleader. He came to prominence in Stan Kenton's orchestra before forming his own big band in 1957. He was noted for his bands, which often served ...

* 2006: '' Live at Ronnie Scott's'' – Jamie Cullum * 2007: '' Live at Ronnie Scott's'' –

Jeff Beck Geoffrey Arnold Beck (born 24 June 1944) is an English rock guitarist. He rose to prominence with the Yardbirds and after fronted the Jeff Beck Group and Beck, Bogert & Appice. In 1975, he switched to a mainly instrumental style, with a focus ...

* 2019: ''Weekend in London'' – George Benson

References

External links

* * {{Authority control 1959 establishments in England Jazz clubs in London Music venues in London Soho, London Chinatown, London