A new documentary about saxophonist Ronnie Scott and his world-renowned London jazz club is set to premiere next month.
After an initial release in the U.K., Ronnie’s will open more widely in select theatres and for on-demand streaming on Feb. 11. It’s not clear yet where in Canada the film will be shown.
Directed by Oliver Murray, Ronnie’s features previously unseen and unheard performances by music legends including Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Nina Simone, Dizzy Gillespie, Chet Baker, Jimi Hendrix, Roland Kirk and Sonny Rollins.
The film also features new interviews with Sonny Rollins, Quincy Jones, Georgie Fame and more.
Watch the trailer for Ronnie’s below.
One of the world’s most popular jazz clubs, Ronnie Scott’s was founded in London’s Soho district in 1959. Scott regularly acted as the club’s master of ceremonies, and he was known for his repertoire of jokes, asides and one-liners.
“This is Ronnie telling his story in his own words,” the director said in an official statement. “It’s a tale of great achievement and wonderful music but also a deep-seated struggle with a traumatic illness — it was unknown to everyone except those closest to him that Ronnie suffered terribly from depression. Art has always been about taking your emotions and expressing them in your work, and music was Ronnie’s medicine for his trauma.”