The Drawing Room of Brown’s Hotel in Albermarle Street in the evening is an intimate and wonderfully welcoming space. It’s best known as one of London’s best destinations for tea in the daytime. But in the evening its different: a place to sink back into those sofas, be with someone you like. And listen to some top musicians.
Brown’s is unlike London hotels, essentially because, unlike its five-star peers, it never had ambitions to be palatial. It has its origins in a row of private houses. And Monika Jakubowska has wrought miracles with the light in these photos: this is an invitingly dark room…
I went to the first night of the second week of the new series which will run on three midweek evenings until mid-December, and is co-curated by Liam Dunachie and Mátyás Gayer. Details of the next couple of weeks’ programme are below.
Last Tuesday I worked out what it is I REALLY like about Mátyás Gayer’s piano playing. At the end of Styne/Comden/Green’s “Just in Time”, he played the melody with such clarity, beauty, and affection, it is as if he chooses to use his artistry, his fine touch to demonstrate above all what the tune is about and why he likes it. Yes jazz musicians make choices, they play the things they are drawn towards, but there may not be another pianist who gives quite that sense of liking – no, really loving – a melody quite as selflessly…and yet telling you everything about himself… as Mátyás Gayer does.
The pianist was in good company too, Jeremy Brown is a wonderful presence on the bass…and someone recently showed me the Trio Records biography page on wonderful drummer Mark Taylor, which has a list of just some of the jazz eminences whom he played with in his New York years. It is an amazing list (link below).
This series is a gem and needs to be tried at least once. Brown’s is just 500 yards from Green Park Underground. Admission is free but there is an anticipated minimum spend of £30. Give it a try before December, booking link below.
THE DRAWING ROOM AFTER DARK – PROGRAMME
Tuesday 15 October: Duncan Hemstock, Darren McCarthy, Matyas Gayer, Joe Dessauer
Wednesday 16 October: Leo Richardson, Liam Dunachie, Conor Chaplin, Darren Becket –
Thursday 17 October: Kate Williams, Oli Hayhurst, David Ingamells
Tuesday 22 October: Nick Costley White, Liam Dunachie, Dave Ingamells, Mirko Scarcia
Wednesday 23 October: Matyas Gayer, Dave Green, Steve Brown
Thursday 24 October Deschanel Gordon, Donovan Haffner,Will Sach, Will Cleasby
