0442 Ronnie Scott [Live At Ronnie Scotts] FLAC 7(47.19)

Contributed by grumpy

Review by Michael Shera – Jazz Journal June 1969.
Ronnie Scott has assembled a band containing some of Britain's best musicians, an admirable blend of youth and experience. At least two of these musicians, John Surman and Kenny Wheeler are in world class as
soloists, though only John Surman has so far been recognised as such. The programme opens with Joe Henderson's latinesque Recorda Me, where the leader gets off to a good start solo-wise. Gordon Beck's piano solo is somewhat under-recorded. Laurie Holloway wrote King Pete, and John Surman's soprano solo is featured on this fast blues. He builds his solo very effectively, using rapid, staccato phrases and generating tremendous swing, backed by superb bass-playing from Ron Matthewson and the ferocious aggression of the two percussionists. Second Question is Kenny Wheeler's tune, Chris Pyne's relaxed trombone solo being backed by Gordon Beck on organ, who also produces a pleasant chorus or two. Marma-sita, another Joe Henderson tune and another blues, finds the leader in exceptionally Mob-leyesque mood, and is again noteworthy for fine work by Matthewson. Altoist Ray Warleigh also blows hot on this one, backed by assorted latin percussion, and Gordon Beck (on piano) duets with Matthewson. John Surman's baritone is featured on Mike Westbrook's Too Late Too Late, demonstrating his incredible range on the instrument, as well as his invention and drive. Kenny Wheeler's masterly playing on Lord Of The Reedy River makes this track the album's highspot for me; as Peter Clayton points out, it must be hard to play a ballad on flugelhorn without sounding like Miles Davis and Clark Terry—and yet Wheeler makes it seem no problem at all. Gordon Beck wrote Macumba, at ten minutes the longest track on a record notable not least for its generous playing time. Matthewson is again exceptional in the rhythm section. The solo order is Scott, Pyne, Warleigh, Beck and Matthewson.

Kenny Wheeler - trumpet, flugelhorn
Chris Pyne - trombone
Ray Warleigh - alto, flute
Ronnie Scott - tenor
John Surman - soprano, baritone
Gordon Beck - piano, organ
Ron Matthewson - bass
Kenny Clare - drums
Tony Oxley - drums

01 Recorda-Me (Henderson) (4:37)
02 King Pete (Holloway) (6:49)
03 Second Question (Wheeler) (7:22)
04 Mamacita (Henderson) (6:30)
05 Too Late,Too Late (Westbrook) (6:19)
06 Lord Of The Reddy River (Leitch) (5:10)
07 Macumba (Beck) (10:32)

Label: CBS Realm 52661
Recorded: October 25  26 1968
Lineage: CD>FLAC