Morning:
13°c
London faces a wave of bus and Tube strikes that could cause chaos for millions of passengers as unions walkout over pay and conditions
More...
An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance
2012
Theatre
The show has suddenly become quite wonderful, and the galvanising factor is the terrific stage debut of Melanie C
Blood Brothers
Music
The British pop music industry may be eating itself but if Muse are the pick of what it can offer the world in 2010 then British music is in rude health indeed
Muse
I was smitten by both Gilberts enormous luxuriant moustache and the intelligence and nuance of this highly entertaining play
I totally recommend Babbo to anyone who is looking for really good and traditional Italian food
Always been a fan but never seen them live. I was ecstatic to be part of this epic event. WOW!
London,
Multi-talented: Ray Gelato sings and plays sax
Ray Gelato's Giants
Ronnie Scott's W1
***
Acoustic Alchemy
Pizza Express Jazz Club, W1
***
To make a small fortune out of jazz, they say, start with a large fortune. If money is in short supply, an even larger leap of faith is required. Ask the talent bookers at Ronnie Scott’s and the Pizza Express Club in Dean Street, boldly backing two groups to keep cash registers ringing from now until New Year’s Eve. It happened last year. Can they do it again?
Opening-weekend omens were encouraging. Turnout at both venues was good, with atmospheres registering fair on the festive barometer even though both groups were well short of their full party-season stride. Acoustic Alchemy, co‑led by English guitarists Miles Gilderdale and Greg Carmichael, took an early lead in bankability, if only because their melodious smooth-jazz appeals to a loyal fanbase of middle-aged, middle-income couples.
The group does sound significantly hotter and tougher now. Step forward the Grainger brothers from Baltimore. Bassist Gary (ex John Scofield and Earth, Wind and Fire) and drummer Greg (ex Whitney Houston), make a soulful drum’n’bass combination that is giving the leaders and keyboarder Fred White a new lease of creative life.
Singer/tenor-saxman Ray Gelato also has a bright newcomer in his band, the young alto and tenor saxist Vasilis Xenopoulos. “He’s from Athens,” remarked Ray, “so don’t make trouble.”
Ray’s typically brash show invoked such hard-swinging icons as Cab Calloway, Louis Prima and Tony Bennett. Among the non-stop standards we found Annamaria (The Waitress from the Pizzeria), My Kind of Girl (“She looks/like an angel looks/she cooks/like Nigella cooks”) and Night Train (“some rhythm and blues without the rapping”). Skilful fun, but not exactly 21st-century.
Until New Year’s Eve, (Acoustic Alchemy 08456 027017, Ray Gelato, 020 7439 0747).
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
