Episode 32: Another Place I Found in the Basement of a London Pizza Shop
Ronnie Scott's (hereafter Ronnies), a high-end jazz club, is just a 5-minute walk from another important jazz club. Its name is
PizzaExpress Jazz.
"What? Why jazz in a pizza shop?"
Anyone hearing that for the first time would think so. The founder, Peter Boizot, was a huge jazz fan. In 1969, he opened a jazz club in the basement of the Dean Street branch in Soho, which was part of the pizza chain he started himself. In the past, it has hosted an impressive list of performers, including
Norah Jones and Diana Krall. In the basement of a pizza shop. — If you book your tickets early, you can hear powerful music from the front row
at both Ronnies and PizzaExpress. However, compared to Ronnies,
PizzaExpress (PizzaExp) is much more casual.Ronnies has a proper dressing room
where musicians spend their time before and after performances. While some who enjoy a drink might whimsically hang out at the bar, if the musicians don't come out of the dressing room, you won't see them at all
(unless there is an autograph session). PizzaExp is different. Musicians who want a drink come to the bar in the back. It's a place clearly visible from the audience seats. If you call out to them, you can talk. There are chances for autographs and photos together.
—
I have met countless musicians here.
Eddie Gomez, who made a name for himself as the bassist for the Bill Evans Trio. The brilliant drummer
Jeff 'Tain' Watts and the passionate, virtuosic pianist Joey Calderazzo. The jazz piano master Kenny Barron
. The bassist Steve Rodby
, who also served as a producer for the Pat Metheny Group. Among Japanese artists, Toshiko Akiyoshi and Makoto Ozone!!
The legendary Toshiko herself was selling her own CDs and DVDs (10 pounds and 20 pounds each)
"I'll sign them too!"
she said. I shamelessly took her up on the offer.
It was a solo piano night, and she said, "The first half wasn't quite there. Oh well,
not enough practice. I have to do better in the second half!"
She was already 86 at the time. I was overwhelmed by her relentless ambition. (She is coming to Japan this summer at 96! I'm looking forward to the concert.)
I asked Mr. Ozone to sign nearly 10 CDs. Even to such an unreasonable request that would be absolutely impossible in Japan,
"Let me eat some pizza after this is done~"
Having said that, they signed everything with a wry smile.
—
I was also able to talk to my favorite British pianist, Gwilym Simcock.
"Your performance today was great too! When are you coming back to London next?" When I asked him that one time,
he said with a truly troubled look on his face."
Honestly, I really don't know myself. I'm participating in Pat Metheny's world tour, so I can't predict my schedule at all."—
There is another specialty unique to Pizza Express.
It's the sound of glasses and pizza plates being washed. During the live performance, from the counter in the back,
whoosh! clatter! crash! sounds can be heard without reservation.
Even during quiet ballad scenes, they don't care. At first I was surprised, but eventually I started to think that was just like Pizza Express too.—
I frequented this shop as much as I did Ronnie Scott's.
I became familiar with the receptionists and the waiters.
The night before I left London, I went to this shop to
say my final goodbyes. I found one waiter who always talked to me in a friendly manner and called out to him. "Actually, it's very hard to say, but I've decided to return to Japan.
Tonight will be my last time here.
" He widened his eyes. "
You're kidding. That's impossible. You're always coming here.
" "Yeah, I don't want to go back, but I've left my family in Japan for many years on an overseas assignment." "Is that so? I don't want to believe it." After a short pause, he continued.
"
But, please come back anytime.
" "Because this shop without you wouldn't be the same shop anymore.
"