Episode 8: Denis Lawson
Renowned actor, director and writer Denis Lawson is probably best known for his appearances in classic films such as Bill Forsyth's "Local Hero" and the original "Star Wars" trilogy, but he has years of experience in the West End as a musical theatre actor, nominated for Olivier Awards for "Pal Joey" (1980) and "Le Cage Aux Folles" (2009), and winning in 1983 for his performance in "Mr Cinders",
He chats to us about his love of jazz, and Ronnie Scott's in particular, and about seeing some of the absolute legends of jazz, from Ella Fitzgerald and Count Basie, to Miles Davis, Sarah Vaughan and Chick Corea.
And in an exciting development, Denis joined us for a second time to chat about musical theatre, seeing Rod Stewart with the Faces at The Roundhouse, and his somewhat unexpected choice of first post-lockdown gig.
The Oscar Peterson Trio, “C Jam Blues”, Denmark 1964. The studio version of this track features on the first jazz album Denis bought, Peterson’s “Night Train”.
Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Omar Hakim and Stanley Jordan at the Montreaux Jazz Festival 1991.
John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra live on the BBC. Check out Jan Hammer on keyboards - he went on to compose the theme tune for Miami Vice…
Curtis Stigers at Ronnie Scott’s, London.
Sarah Vaughan, Tenderly.
Roy Ayers, live at Ronnie Scott’s in 1989.