Weekend - Live At Ronnie Scotts (1983) [ALAC]

Weekend - Live At Ronnie Scotts (1983) [ALAC]



Although the short-lived trio Weekend's roots are strictly in twee indie pop -- singer Alison Statton, of course, had been the vocalist on the massively influential Young Marble Giants album Colossal Youth -- they fancied themselves a jazz trio. This brief album (just under half-an-hour) was recorded in front of a small but appreciative crowd at the legendary London jazz club Ronnie Scott's, and for even more jazz authenticity, pianist Keith Tippett, a legendary figure on the U.K. jazz scene, sits in with Statton (bass and vocals), Spike (guitar and viola), Simon Booth (guitar), guest drummer Roy Dodds, and saxophonist Larry Stabbins. The set starts off with lengthy meditations on two jazz standards most often associated with Statton's obvious hero Stan Getz, "Where Flamingos Fly" and "Winter Moon," before gliding through two lovely tracks from Weekend's sole album, 1982's La Varieté, and an extended jam on the tropical-flavored single "A Life in the Day Of (Pts. 1 and 2)." The music is surprisingly authentic jazz-pop, much more viable than most similar experiments from the rock side of the jazz-rock equation, and the more relaxed vibe, allowing solos from nearly every member of the group on the five drawn-out but not overextended songs. Astrud Gilberto fans in particular shouldn't miss it.

1 Where Flamingos Fly
2 Winter Moon
3 Nostalgia
4 Weekend Off
5 A Day in the Life Of...
6 Past Meets Present
7 Woman's Eyes
8 A View From Her Room
9 A Day in the Life Of...
10 The End of the Affair
11 Woman's Eyes (David Jensen session)
12 Weekend Off (David Jensen session)
13 Summerdays (Old Grey Whistle Test 30th October 1982)
14 Drum Beat for Baby (12" version)
15 A View From Her Room (12" version)