It must have been everybody’s idea of a dream band, not only for the audience but for the musicians too, because the atmosphere generated by the Charlie Watts Big Band during their brief but very memorable week at Ronnie Scott’s was, to put it mildly, electric.
The line-up read like a Who’s Who of British jazz, involving no less than 32 names: John Stevens, Bill Eyden, Charlie Watts, Ron Mathewson, Dave Green (bass), Jack Bruce, Bill Le Sage, Jim Lawless, Stan Tracey, Colin Smith, Jimmy Deuchar, Ted Emmett, Steve Sidwell, Harry Beckett, Dave Defries, Annie Whitehead, John Picard, Paul Rutherford, Chris Pyne, Willie Garnett, Ray Warleigh, Peter King, Danny Moss, Don Weller, Bobby Wellins, Alan Skidmore, Courtney Pine, Olaf Vas, Gail Thompson, Julie Dennis, Gail Dorsey and Alan Cohen.
We heard outstanding contributions from Jimmy Deuchar and Peter King on Loverman, Stan Tracey behind every number, and a blistering tenor battle on Lester Leaps In involving Don Weller, Alan Skidmore, Bobby Wellins, Danny Moss and Courtney Pine. Other captivating moments included a plaintive trumpet feature by Steve Sidwell and a beautiful bowed cello and flute duet by Jack Bruce and Olaf Vas.
Special mention must also be made of Gail Thompson’s deeply mellow baritone, Annie Whitehead’s gutsily swinging trombone, and the two excellent singers, Julie Dennis and Gail Dorsey.
Full marks to Charlie Watts for this already legendary orchestra and, to echo the immortal words of Count Basie, can we please make it ‘One more time’ real soon!
