All That Jazz

My earliest memory of any concert is being dragged along to see Count Basie as an 8 year old.

My father was an ardent jazz fan and therefore I was brought up with the likes of the aforementioned Basie.

Dave Brubeck the American jazz pianist and composer. Who was regarded as a foremost exponent of cool jazz.

Oscar Peterson probably one of the greatest jazz pianist and composer of all time.

Stan Getz, the American jazz saxophonist. Playing primarily the tenor saxophone, Getz was known as "The Sound"

There were many more like Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Wynton Marsalis and Duke Ellington.

Having never had the talent to play a instrument, my passion for Jazz has grown over the years thanks to my late fathers influence.

So now I get to live the dream by simply photographing the best jazz musicians this country has to offer.

The hallowed Ronnie Scott jazz club has always been the place to witness some of the best jazz musicians around, a place that I have still not had the pleasure of attending, yet!.

Imagine my surprise and excitement to be given a photo pass for Ronnie Scott All stars tour at The Apex, Bury St Edmunds.

Celebrating the incredible 60+ year history of one of the world's most iconic music venues, the Ronnie Scott's All Stars came to celebrate the 'Ronnie Scott's Story.

Led by the Club’s Musical Director, James Pearson, with other amazing musicians Sam Burgess (bass), Chris Higgingbottom (drums) and Alex Garnett (saxophone) along with dynamic vocalist Emma Smith.

There were iconic archive images and footage on a screen at the back of the stage of some of the famous musicians and singers who appeared at Ronnie Scott’s since it opened back in October 1959.

By the end of the evening, even though I had never been to the iconic club in London, I felt the club actually came to see me.

www.grahampattison-music-photography.com

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