Wandering Monster

Tom and Poppy are staying with us and as a thank you they get me a ticket for Ronnie Scotts to see Tom drumming in his jazz band Wandering Monster. I'm slightly surprised that I've never been to Ronnie's in 4 decades of London gigging so pleased at a good reason to go. I arrive to see a massive queue so I saunter to the front and tell security that I'm a guest of the drummer and they let me queue jump. I obviously look like a jazz aficionado compared to the queue who are half that and half tourists. I think. Still takes 15 minutes to get in and to the bar where I wait for Poppy. We could go to one of the comfy seats with orange lights like everyone else but opt for bar stools as it has a great view of the stage. Tom has a few friends and his parents here tonight with the latter on a table right next to the stage and the former sat with me and Poppy at the bar. We (well they) turn out to be the raucous contingent despite the sign on the bar telling us to not talk during performances "even if you are friends of the band". The band are a 5 piece with upright proper bass played by the guy who writes the song (are tunes without vocals songs?), guitar, sax, keyboards and our very own Tom on the drums. They start off with a longish (compared to my usual fare of sub 3 minute punk) meandering tune which goes around the melody cycle with each instrument and a few outbreaks of improv soloing. Now, not knowing anything about jazz except for seeing a bit of trad in pubs and dancing to jazz funk and listening to the jazzier side of Zappa and getting into black midi and BCNR, ah OK, maybe a fair bit of my listening is jazz influenced. So anyway I'm going in with an open mind to abate my prejudices of black polo necked bearded folk nodding to noodling. Sorry about that awful characterisation. I can't really describe the music from a jazz view and I can't make a lot of lazy comparisons to other jazz artists so this is from a jazz virgin's point of view comparing to other genres. Firstly, I really enjoyed the gig. More than I thought I would as I thought I may become bored as I've never got into jazz. The musicianship was exceptional and they really complement each other. The cycle of melody is a bit like verse chorus repeat of blues and rock but far more intricate and with a lot more improvisation. My reference is the improv of the interesting side of psychedelic rock such as Gong and the spaced out scene. It's free flowing drifting off and then coming back down to mother earth with a bit of a hard edge especially when the drums kick in, as opposed to cymbal brushing, and the sax starts blurting. And that's what makes it interesting for me. At times it's very laid back focussing on one instrument and at others it's verging on a rock vibe albeit without the classic 4/4 beat. So yes, like the off beat freestyle grooving of psych bands but without the heavy weirdness. Or maybe I'm just missing that as jazz musicians have been known to indulge (obviously not saying this band do!)  The bassist is great whether plucking out a raw beat or filling in the gaps or soloing. Tom on drums is brilliant and how he keeps the vibe with the others must take a lot of concentration. He's constantly looking at the others, as they all need to do, measuring sweetly soft brush strokes with a harder edged banging beat when needed. Classic jazz drummer nodding head. Is that taught as part of the jazz drummer training? Interesting watching him tonight and comparing to his drumming for his rock band KOYO which seems a lot simpler. Although KOYO have that psychedelic dare I say prog vibe which I guess melds with the way he plays jazz. The guitarist runs from rhythm to soloing to filling in just right and those solos are right up there. The keyboard player alternates between the house grand piano (how many jazz greats have tinkled those ivories?) and an electronic keyboard jumping between classic and modern jazz (get me, jazz expert, hey!). The saxophonist is also great. Going along with the rhythm and then branching out somewhere above the tune. A few times he goes into blasting blurting mode which sounds quite jarring going along with the rest of the music but fits in brilliantly especially as I love that sound and reminds me of Ted Milton's playing in Blurt (who I saw this summer - catch em while you can) and Nik Turner. The whole vibe at times is a bit Hawkwind-at-Stonehenge. All in all a great set which I enjoyed a lot. The bassist has a bit of chat too which is nice - a wry sense of humour. The audience are very appreciative and possibly slightly noisier than they would have been as our group of liggers at the bar are whooping and shouting out the musician's names which encourages everyone else to be a bit more enthusiastic. Great atmosphere because of that. An encore is insisted upon which is a Randy Newman tune for which I'm racking my brain as to whether I have ever heard a Randy Newman cover live. Very likely not unless Stiff Little Fingers who used to like playing unlikely encores. This was nowhere near as good as the rest of the set. So, yes, I'd like to see Wandering Monsters again. For sure. Whether I'll venture into other jazz not wholly sure but I won't strenuously avoid it. Maybe I can't avoid it as I am now inducted into the secret life of jazz fans of which Poppy has given me a glimpse such as clapping during songs. I nearly clapped halfway through the first song when I thought they'd finished. They hadn't so just as well I judiciously waited until someone else clapped (no one did). Then halfway through the second song people started clapping when it obviously wasn't over. Poppy explained you clap after a solo or improv bit to show appreciation to that musician. Afterwards chatted to Tom about the differences drumming for jazz, rock and general pop. And complimented the saxophonist saying some of the blurty bits were like a band called Blurt and did he know them? Did he?!?  A fan of Ted Milton and impressed I'd seen him recently. Then I mentioned Gong and he, Poppy and myself had a right old natter about Gong, the Canterbury Scene, Nik Turner and Hawkwind, jazz funk, Orange Juice, Rip Rig and Panic, James Chance, Frank Zappa and whether Gong was Prog Rock and did we therefore like Prog to which Ben vehemently stated "if I do like prog rock it's not the evil side like Yes, Genesis and Rick Fking Wakeman!" (or words to that effect, I think, apologies if I've misquoted you Ben). Total agreement there then. I leave the youngsters to chat and catch the tube home getting to bed before Tom and Poppy return. 

The verdict. Would I go see jazz again. Likely. To see if as good as Tom's band (unlikely). Would I go to Ronnie Scott's again. Possibly. If seeing Tom's band again or if I'm on a guest list and don't have to queue for an hour and I can sit at the bar or at a table right in front of the stage.

Photos. None as illegal. Whilst trying to sort out my phone's camera (why do I find it so hard?) one of the waiting staff stood in front of me remonstrating (which I couldn't hear properly) and making a cut throat sign. Very disturbing until I realised she was just telling me I couldn't take photos. Another negative for Ronnies.

Thanks again for the ticket Tom. Let me know when next in London whether playing jazz or psychedelic rock. If the former with Poppy to give me the inside gen on jazz etiquette.

Photo credit: Sophie Jouvenaar