Renato Paris, Ronnie Scott's

Appearing at the most recent running of the Late Late Show last night this was a good chance to catch keyboardist and singer Renato Paris again who impressed us a lot earlier in the year in Camilla George's band at the Jazz Cafe. Here the south …

Published: 3 Dec 2021. Updated: 2 years.

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Appearing at the most recent running of the Late Late Show last night this was a good chance to catch keyboardist and singer Renato Paris again who impressed us a lot earlier in the year in Camilla George's band at the Jazz Cafe. Here the south Londoner was with his trio, the tall, heavily-bearded bass guitarist Benjamin Muralt and the young up-and-coming Dennis Chambers and Adam Nussbaum-inspired drummer Zoe Pascal. Before the trio went on and during set breaks Claudia Wilson from Pure Vinyl in Brixton as stageside DJ spun tracks that included the Langston Hughes-inspired 'I've Known Rivers' by Gary Bartz and Ntu Troop and cuts from Dwight Trible, Herbie Hancock ('Butterfly') and Ahmad Jamal ('Poinciana'). ''Auntie Claudia we call her,'' grinned Paris, dressed casually in a leather jacket, wearing his baseball-cap backwards.

When he sings Renato sounds quite a lot like Stevie Wonder. His scatting is a pleasure. And the overall flavour had a feelgood Stevie vibe. Renato's changes are very listenable in a 1970s pocket groove vein, here playing Nord Stage 2 keys, beginning with 'To Be With You'. Muralt's bass-led feature early in the set was introduced too soon. But later he began to steer the beat more his way and Pascal responded especially when he became more latinate. 'Every Little Thing' was one of the best songs of the first set and the treatment of Stevie Wonder/Susaye Greene song 'I Can't Help It' sung by Michael Jackson on 1979's Off the Wall was well-judged. Guests later included gutsy alto saxophonist Tom Waters (son of boogie-woogie giant Ben Waters) clad in a University of Surrey top who sounds a little like David Sanborn and who has a 9 January slot at Ronnie's coming up with his band Electric People.

Discover Renato on this fine song from Feast by Pyjæn

Renato Paris, keys and vocals, Benjamin Muralt, bass guitar, Zoe Pascal, drums, above at the Late Late Show in Ronnie's

Review and photos: Stephen Graham

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The Seventh Hand is next from Immanuel Wilkins with Ronnie's one-nighter planned

It's a late-January release in prospect for The Seventh Hand coming up from Immanuel Wilkins, one of the hottest alto saxophone new talents to have emerged on the progressive acoustic post-bop scene in simply years. The bustling nigh-on …

Published: 2 Dec 2021. Updated: 2 years.

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It's a late-January release in prospect for The Seventh Hand coming up from Immanuel Wilkins, one of the hottest alto saxophone new talents to have emerged on the progressive acoustic post-bop scene in simply years. The bustling nigh-on 7-and-a-half-minutes pretty uptempo, as it turns out, piece 'Emanation' introduces the new album, and quite an introduction it proves: pressure cooker saxology from Wilkins followed by a sonorous piano solo delivered by Micah Thomas before Wilkins eventually returns in a more serene vein. The Kenny Garrett-inspired Philadelphian features a seven-movement suite of his own originals on the album which is to be issued by Blue Note. The Omega band of the aforementioned Thomas, bassist Daryl Johns and drummer Kweku Sumbry join him once again along with guests, the much talked-about flautist Elena Pinderhughes and the Farafina Kan percussion ensemble. Biblically-inspired in its titling the number seven represents divine intervention. Wilkins quoted by Blue Note says: “The goal of what we’re all trying to get to is nothingness, where the music can flow freely through us.” Immanuel Wilkins photo: Rog Walker. Read a marlbank interview with Wilkins circa Omega, here. Touring plans include Ronnie Scott's on 14 March sandwiched between dates in Italy and France