ROnNiE ScOtT's JaZz cLuB

Tuesday, November 26th

I woke up early this morning to get to ISH for breakfast and then head out for our trip to the Winsor Newton factory. A lot of people were rather upset about having to go so far away and having to pay tube fare to get there, so only 7 people actually showed up for class. It took a little over an hour to get there. When we arrived, they had us all wear white lab coats, safety glasses, and headphones. We started off in a gallery in the main lobby, looking at rocks and crushed fragments into pigments. Winsor Newton is a famous and prestigious art manufacturing company, best known for their superior quality. My wallet definitely agrees whenever I have to buy new oil paints…

In this front lobby we went through a brief timeline of the company and the history of art materials, giving me a much greater appreciation for the artists of the time. The powdered pigments were sold to artists, who had to mix all of their paints themselves. So not only were they figuring out the rules to painting, technique, anatomy, and all that jazz, but they were also having to create their own paint themselves. Look at how easy we have it today compared to that, and look at the masterpieces created at the time. The average person wouldn’t even consider that when looking at a painting!

I also learned that instead of the tubes we use today, they held paint in pig bladders as pouches. Some of the paint and pigments were created from materials ranging from beautiful lapus lazuli to the urine of a cow. We also saw some of the excursion boxes used to hold artists materials during explorations of the world, as this is how the new areas were documented, providing further funds for study.

When we were done with the tour of the factory, we went to a conference room upstairs and were able to sample a few of the materials. This was good from two perspectives. For me and Diane, the only painters in the group, it was interesting to try some of the new colors and their effects, expanding my knowledge of the painting materials. However, it was also nice to show some of my friends the science and intricacy that goes into oil painting, having to use different mediums, paint thinners, and brush types. There is still so much more to learn with canvases, technique, and so on, but it was nice to share with them a little taste of what I do… plus, im getting pretty antsy with being away from my studio at home so it was nice to paint a little something!

We had to rush out right after our tour because Rachael needed to register for classes. I spent a little bit of time getting some information together that we would need during the week for Becca and her mom’s visit and then by 5:30 I met Becca at ISH. I felt really bad because she said her mom was feeling really sick and sat in her room all day, while Becca explored the city.

Anyway, Becca and I ate dinner in the ISH bar where we ate with my friend Luke. On our way out we talked with a few other friends and then started our walk down Great Portland Street.

We walked down Oxford Street and turned onto Charing Cross, and walked through the West End so that Becca could see the theatre district and the brightly lit studios. I showed her the theatre where I had gone to Spam-a-Lot and some of the other cool places down Shaftesbury Ave.

About a block away was our destination for the evening: the world renowned Ronnie Scotts jazz club. I found out later that just a few weeks ago, saxophonist Chris Potter was here. I really wish I could have seen that. I missed it when he came to Point last year, and he is kind of a big deal…

The atmosphere inside was exactly what you would picture of your stereotypical jazz club. You walk back to a dark room with a small relaxed stage in the back center and small tables to sit around in front of that. Surrounding this on the other three sides, you go up a step or two with more tables or booths to watch the performers as well. Directly across from the stage, past the sitting areas, is a bar.

Becca and I sat in a velvety red booth (the booths were all in rows facing the music, not like in a restaurant) overlooking the musical ensemble. The whole room wasn’t all that large, and you could tell how intently everyone was watching that it was really more of an elite music venue. The people were really there for the music.

Becca and I ordered a drink and they all had creative titles, named after jazz musicians or other musical relations. For example, ‘the Ellington,’ and the ‘Jelly Roll (something or other),’ obviously named after Duke Ellington and Jelly Roll Morton. My favorite was ‘the Cuban Mistress.’ The description: pressed, smashed, and thrown about a bit. I ordered the ‘Fitzgerald’ in tribute to Ella, the famous singer and it was the strongest drink I think I’ve ever had. After about three sips I felt my face getting flushed and it tasted terrible, so I decided to stop there… It fizzed really cool though, and next to the little red lamps on our tables, it looked really cool. Ha.

The music was really good… of course. I don’t remember the name of the opening ensemble, but it was a small combo made up of a piano, bass, drumset, and a violin. I really enjoyed the combination and thought it was pretty cool when the violinist whipped out an electric violin, having never seen one before. It was basically like an electric guitar, but a violin… bad ass…

The main act was John Beasley, Jeff 'Tain' Watts, Buster Williams, Bernie Maupin + Chris Garrick Quartet, and they have performed with Wynton and Branford Marsalis. I was really sad that I missed Wynton coming to Point this semester. He even worked with our jazz band. So jealous of Job right now…

Anyway, I really enjoyed it and it really made me miss playing. I haven’t played my saxophone since May, and I am really looking forward to getting back into combo upon my return. I’m also going to play a Louis Armstrong piece on clarinet in an ensemble with Job in the jazz repertory concert next semester. Christmas break is going to be very busy between a full time job, a freelance project, learning that music, and regaining six months loss of an embouchure and technical skill on two instruments. My life never really slows down…

Anyway, I really enjoyed this combo. They played ‘Maiden Voyage,’ which is a simple jazz chart that anyone who has ever played in a combo has played. However, to play it effectively is the challenge, due to its long lines and slow, mystical tempo.

Another tune that really stood out was a tribute to Lester Young, where the horn player played a bass clarinet the whole time. The tambre of the instrument with the ensemble was a very unique sound and as a clarinet player myself, I thought it was rather intriguing. The horn player played a soprano sax, bass clarinet, and a tenor sax. Pretty cool. I also loved watching the face of the drummer the whole time. He was smiling the whole time and absolutely lovin it.

I didn’t know you weren’t allowed to take pictures inside, so I got a short video before I was asked to stop. Even though it is rather dark, you can still get a pretty good idea of the atmosphere inside. I also took a few videos from under my table to get a few clips of the music for you to enjoy… would you expect anything less?

After this group was done, the opening act went up once more and Becca and I stayed for a little while yet and planned out some ideas for the rest of the week. We left about 11:15 or so to make our way home.