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MUSIC WEEK NOVEMBER 17 1984 Edited bv [p[|CS[F®[SMZ?\K3(g[ CHRIS WHITE Elkie Brooks FEARS THAT Elkie Brooks was being London's most celebrated nightclub celebrates its 25th birthday drawn into the shallow but lucrative world of cabaret were soon dispelled at Hammersmith Odeon as she powered through a gutsy rock-orienta- ted show much to the delight of an enthusiastic audience which spanned the age spectrum. Great Scott and all that jazz Backed by a light and talented combo that included the ever-versatile Duncan Mackay on keyboards and the LEGENDARY more than competent Zal Cleminson IT'S NOT very often that someone pulls a fast one over Ronnie jazz drummer on lead guitar, Elkie Brooks proved Scott the jazz saxophonist, whose club of the same name has Buddy Rich that her voice is equally at home with nlave'd home to the world's top jazz names. But last week he was presented Pete hard rock as it is with the slower King lleft) and numbers. the "victim" of a surprise party to celebrate the 25th anniversary Much of the featured material was of the club which originally started life in Gerrard Street, in the Ronnie Scott drawn from the Pearls I and II albums, heart of China Town. ■ , fright) with with the inevitable Pearl's A Singer special gold and Lilac Wine standing out. while the The party was a well-deserved tribute to Scott and his long- discs to mark arrangement and execution of Nights time partner Pete King. At one point it had looked as though the the 25th anni- In White Satin was one of the show's auspicious anniversary would pass uncelebrated, but following versary of their high spots. offers of sponsorship from two companies, and with some help famous club. JIM EVANS from BBC TV, the club's quarter century wasn't forgotten The club was launched from a basement to simply provide a place where UK jazz musicians could play together. However Floy Joy many top American players soon found their way to the Gerrard BEGINNING APPROPRIATELY enough Street venue, including Stan Getz, Dexter Gordon, Bill Evans, with Into The Hot, Floy Joy quashed Donal Byrd and Wes Montgomery. the relative anticlimax of their LP with And eventually the inevitable happened; new larger premises had to iron step ladder, but the London County Council came along and a steamy performance of their dense, be found, and Ronnie Scott's moved to its present premises in Frith inspected it, and much to our everlasting amazement okayed it." city funk al an oven-like Wag Club. Street, Soho, in December 1965, Since then stars like Ella Fitzgerald, Promoter Harold Davison helped finance the club's move to Frith They swapped much of the album's Sarah Vaughan, Al Jarreau, Buddy Rich, Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie, Street — "He always had a lot of sympathy in what we were trying to smoothness for power, so that nearly do" _ which allowed a lot more musical scope. "We have become an all the songs eclipsed their recorded Lional Hampton and Woody Herman, to name but a fraction, have institution and I'm proud of that," Scott says. "There are very few versions, remaining sophisticated but played there. people who have not played here and although there are plenty of other not polite. The club's most recent history hasn't been without problems, but jazz clubs, we are also a nightclub." The Ward brothers (bass and sax) today it appears to be back on a fairly even keel financially and it is and lovers rock star, Carroll attracting a whole new generation of music fans: among the more He has always tried to encourage new talent and looks with satis- Thompson (vocals) were joined by contemporary names to have played Ronnie's have been Joan Arma- faction at the newer names who have played the club in the last couple three or four additional players — it trading, Carmel, Hazel O'Connor, Mezzoforte, Animal Nightlife, of years. "If we have a big name appearing we often put a young was difficult to see on the almost Weekend and Hugh Masekela. unknown act on as support to give them a platform for their talents. We floor-level stage — and a male Recalling the club's origin, Scott says: "The Gerrad Street venue was do our best to use as many good young musicians as possible. Quite vocalist. But Thompson's blissfully often people tip us off about acts that they have seen or heard, and so cool voice remained very much the originally an all-night taxi driver hang-out. I knew the landlord, who was we approach them to ask if they'd like to play the club," pivot around which everything else an ex-taxi driver himself, and he agreed to rent out the basement. We He also pays tribute to his long-time partner Pete King: "He was a sax revolved. Just how essential she was went out and brought 100 second-hand chairs, and charged 2s 6d in making Floy Joy special became admission during the week and five shillings on a Saturday." player himself, and we worked in the same band together for several apparent on the occasions she took There were other problems in those early days, not least the tough years, Pete has always looked after the day-to-day side of running the backseat to her co-vocalist and the licensing laws that prevailed, and safety regulations. Scott openly the club, which has allowed me to concentrate on the music, and even band became just another good soul admits now that the club was a fire hazard: "The only exit was an old go on the road myself." group, with only Michael Ward's honking and squalling sax to save them from anonymity. But with Thompson in control, Floy ["chart newcomers "1 Joy displayed an immense and infec- tious delight in playing live, plus an ' BOBBY G; Big Deal (BBC African venture Talent tips appreciation of the value of not going | Records RESL 153). UK origin. on too long, disappearing after nine ■ Entered chart, November 10, TSAFRIKA IS launching a new THE PET Shop Boy's debut single numbers to re-emerge for a I 1984. Solo outing by the venue in North London for live West End Girls made only a small languorous rendition of their current i Bucks Fizz member singing music. The Forum in Highgate impression on the club/dance IN TIME Music is offering a 16- Virgin single. Until You Come Back To I this TV theme. opens this week (15) with a charts when it was released by track recording service which can Me, closing what had been an impres- special Tsafrika Shindig evening Epic earlier this year, but has now be set up at home or in a re- sive London debut. ' THE ADVENTURES: Send My featuring six bands, including become a big hit on the US West hearsal studio. In Time's Mark JOHN BEST | Heart {Chrysalis Records CHS Kabbala, Hi-life International and Coast, with extensive airplay Howes says: "We're offering very ■ 2001). UK origin. Entered The Republic. Tsafrika's Julian through stations like K-Rock in reasonable terms. The service is I chart, November 10, 1984. Bahula says: "The Forum will be Los Angeles. The duo are ideal for the smaller music i@p-sdk© H@(s!©/ | Second Chrysalis single from open for the Tsafrika nights every managed by Tom Watkins of publisher without his own studio I a band (their first Another other Thursday, and we will be Massive Management who says: facilities to be able to offer his Portion C®iitir®[! I Silent Day attracted atten- continuing with our presentation "The situation has renewed writers excellent equipment at THERE WAS a certain irony in Portion tion) who have been doing of live African music at the 100 interest in the Pet Shop Boys, r-v.lOW cost.' Control playing support to Depeche | London gigs and have just Club in Oxford Street every whose association with Epic ) Contact: Mark Howes, In Time Mode for their four nights at the . completed their debut album Friday night." Records is now over. We've been r"Music, 8 Bridford Mews, London Hammersmith Odeon, when so much I produced by Bob Sargeant. getting interest from record \ WIN 1LQ. of the latter's recent work has i Although they are London- TALENT SHOWCASE venue La companies both sides of the borrowed heavily, if not from Portion ' based, three of the members Beat Route in London's West End Atlantic." Control themselves, then certainly I were with the Northern Ire- is extending its live music policy Contact: Tom Watkins, JUICE, who have been attracting from their fellow experimentalists. land band Star Jets. But then Portion Control have no following the success of Steve Massive Mangement. Tel: 01-437 interst with various gigs includ- desire to preach to the converted, so Rowland's regular Tuesday 1688. ing the Studio Valbonne in the the relationship was mutually bene- I REDSKINS Keep On Movin' "banned nights", which aim to West End, are now looking for ficial. Indeed they were well received. I On! (London Records F1). UK "provide a balanced mix of up HELENA SPRINGS, who has recording interest. They recorded The vocalist pogoed around the dark j. origin. Entered chart, Novem- and coming bands and more worked extensively with Bob a demo tape earlier this year stage and barked punky vocals in front I ber 10. 1984. Fronted by X established recording acts, to Dylan on five tours and three al- whch has been broadcast several of a barrage of slides, while the 1 Moore, Aka NME writer Chris appeal to people working within bums, is the first signing to times on Radio Horizon and, remaining two-thirds of the group Moore.

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