Ian Shaw and James Pearson

Doors 6:30 PM | Show 8:00 PM

'A Soulful Exchange'

Jazz singer, Ian Shaw, celebrates the song stylers who took a jazz classic and made it their own - and the other way round, like when Ella, Ray Charles and Sarah Vaughan sang The Beatles, or Bowie did Nina Simone. Expect songs immortalised by Van Morrison, Dusty Springfield, Aretha, and even David Bowie. There's also a special tribute to Quincy Jones, who Shaw has sung with.

Joining Ian for this Soul Mama exclusive, is Ronnie Scott's musical director, the 'superb' (The Times) pianist, James Pearson.

"Shaw fairly drips with soul" - Downbeat
"Our fave jazz singer" - Time Out
"One of the contemporary scene's class acts" - The Guardian

Ian Shaw

Multi-award winner as best jazz vocalist - BBC Jazz Awards 2007 and 2004 and Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2018, alongside nominations from the Jazz FM Awards 2013 and Downbeat Magazine 2017 - Ian Shaw has amassed a number of highly acclaimed internationally released albums and is a popular performer both in the UK and the US. He has been cited, along with Mark Murphy and Kurt Elling, as one of the world's finest male jazz vocalists. Shaw's career in performance began unusually for a jazz musician on the Alternative Cabaret Circuit, alongside such performers as Julian Clary, Rory Bremner and Jo Brand. Shaw was spotted by Dave Illic, jazz critic for City Limits and was described as "the voice of the decade".

James Pearson

James Pearson is one of the country's most respected musicians. His work covers all genres of music, especially contemporary music, jazz and classical. He graduated from the Guildhall School, having completed his degree and the Advanced Solo Studies Course. Whilst at college he studied with Robert Saxton, Francis Shaw, Peter Bithell and James Gibb. He regularly performed with the symphony orchestra, including a concert at the Barbican with Takemitsu.

James has broadcast on all the major radio and television networks. Classic F.M broadcast his concert of Rachmaninoff's 2nd piano concerto, and BBC Radio 2 broadcast his performance of the Gershwin Piano Concerto and Rhapsody in Blue. He was the pianist in the Steve Martland Band. His work as a Jazz musician has taken him all over the world. This year his trio The James Pearson Trio played a four night run in Birdland Jazz Club in New York. His fine piano playing and arrangements can be heard on over 50 albums.

Amongst the many people James has worked with are, Dame Cleo Laine, Maria Ewing, Marian Montgomery, Petula Clark, The John Wilson Orchestra, Elvin Jones, Wynton Marsalis, Joss Stone, Dave Stewart, Buddy Greco, Johnny Griffin, Joseph Horowitz, Richard Rodney Bennett, Ray Davies, Polly Gibbons, Nigel Kennedy, Robbie Williams, Rufus Wainwright, Gregory Porter, Imelda May, Jeff Beck and Paul McCartney.

The Soul Mama Menu offers a delightful blend of African, Caribbean, and South American cuisine. Soul Mama was listed in the "top restaurants to look forward to in 2024 list" by the Evening Standard.