Pizza Express Label?

[Dan Gould]

So I finally get a chance to hear one of my vinyl purchases from a couple of weeks ago, Al Grey & Tony Coe Get it Together Live at Pizza Express, and to my surprise I realize that the label on the record is a picture of a well-loaded pizza, and the label itself is Pizza Express.

So I have to wonder, what other gigs at the venerable location have been issued. Anyone? Bueller?

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

You'll have to await the arrival of someone who gives a toss about British jazz, I'm afraid. I never got past Ray Ellington

Seriously, there were several that I've heard of vaguely, but it ain't my kind of thing at all.

MG

[Dan Gould]

I thought this place books, or used to book, a lot of touring international stars, like, you know ... Al Grey. I can't imagine this is the only release that isn't a purely Brit band.

But if it is, and I may hijack my own thread ... about this pizza place. Is British pizza any good? I mean, given the reputation of the rest of the cuisine, I'm guessing not.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Aha! When people visit Britain, they eat in British restaurants. Mostly they're crap, except the transport cafes, where you can get all day breakfasts that are killers! (Cholesterol palaces!) Some of the fish & chip shops are brilliant, too. The Laughing Halibut, just off Victoria Street in London is my favourite, but one of the best in Britain is The Crispy Cod, in downtown Tonyrefail. http://www.thecrispycod.co.uk/

When people cook out of their own tradition, usually at home, they can cook. That applies wherever in the world you are, I expect.

MG

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

I thought this place books, or used to book, a lot of touring international stars, like, you know ... Al Grey. I can't imagine this is the only release that isn't a purely Brit band.

(Back to the thread.)

You're surely right, but Al is, as far as I know, the only musician of some importance in soul jazz who's recorded for the label. Most soul jazz musicians coming here would play in dance halls. I'm sure, though, that I remember Houston Person gigged there on one tour of Europe, but didn't record because he had a contract. Al, like Sonny Stitt, seems to have been able to get record dates from whomever he liked.

MG

[jeffcrom]

Mose Allison's The Mose Chronicles - Live in London, Volumes 1 & 2 on Blue Note were recorded at the Pizza Express in 2000.

Never had British pizza. Maybe the most disappointing pizza I ever had was in Copenhagen. Had one a few days later in the little Swedish coastal town of Strömstad that was one of the best I ever had; the restaurant was run by a Greek family.

[Chuck Nessa]

Searching a bit I found these

5501 Ruby Braff - later reissued on Arbors

5502 Snub Mosley

5504 Al Grey/Tony Coe

5505 Don Harper/Denny Wright qt feat. Al Cohn

5507 Neville Dickie

Bud Freeman always spoke fondly of the place.

Edited November 17, 2012 by Chuck Nessa

[marcello]

Pizza Express is a sort of "high end" chain of pizza houses, with beautiful, stylish decor.

The one in Soho has jazz, although though these days, musicians play for the door.

No guarantee.

[BillF]

Mose Allison's The Mose Chronicles - Live in London, Volumes 1 & 2 on Blue Note were recorded at the Pizza Express in 2000.

Never had British pizza. Maybe the most disappointing pizza I ever had was in Copenhagen. Had one a few days later in the little Swedish coastal town of Strömstad that was one of the best I ever had; the restaurant was run by a Greek family.

The worst pizza I ever had was in Rome. You never can tell!

On the other hand, Italian-descended American altoist Greg Abate writes this in the notes to his latest album, Greg Abate Quintet Featuring Phil Woods: "'Rocco's Place' was composed in 2010 and written for Rocco Muriale, owner and chief chef of Rocco's Italian Restaurant in Cerido, West Virginia, in my opinion the best Italian restaurant I've ever dined at."

Edited November 17, 2012 by BillF

[sidewinder]

The Pizza Express' outlet where they were recorded would be the one in Greek Street, Soho, where there is a basement jazz club. Very good it is too !

Original owner Peter Boizot was a big fan of jazz - and opened the club back in the 1970s. In the 'earlier' days it featured mainstream groups such as Scott Hamilton, Ruby Braff, Al Cohn etc. Last gig I caught there (some years ago) was by Kenny Garrett.

This one (issued by the chaps at Mole Jazz) was recorded at Pizza Express:

There's still good jazz featured there too. Charles McPherson was featured last week, I believe.

Edited November 18, 2012 by sidewinder

[Ted O'Reilly]

So, recorded at Pizza Express, released on the Pizza Express label.

I wonder how many other jazz clubs have released things on their own label? One I know for sure is the great little club "Jazzland" in Vienna, Austria. I have a good Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis album recorded there with a local rhythm section. (Nothing to do with the American label Jazzland, BTW).

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Ronnie's released some records, too, I believe.

Also the Blue Note Club

And back to seriously - Antone's - the Austin, Tx blues club had its own label. Called Antones.

MG

[JSngry]

Caravan Of Dreams had a label that released both live and studio recordings.

[CJ Shearn]

I haven't checked out any releases on Smalls records but hear their excellent.

Edited November 23, 2012 by CJ Shearn