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Critics' Choice
TheatreSarah Frater
There were huge cheers as the curtain came down, and rarely have they felt so poignant
English National Ballet: Manon
Music
André Paine
Brown often stopped singing, preferring to gyrate to his records
Chris Brown
Comedy
Bruce Dessau
Take a pinch of gothic, add cabaret, dancing and animation and the result is more than a little bit ingenious
Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea
Reader reviews
Pubs & BarsPeter, Suffolk
Having lived, worked and still regularly stay in Mayfair, I can enthuse about Ye Grapes until ye cows come home
Clive, London
Bhere was a noticeable lack of emotional weight from the deservedly-popular principals
Dee, London
This is a fantastic pub. The only problem is that it's too good and too popular!
London,
Power and grace from samba's first family
By Jack Massarik, Evening Standard 20.08.08
Welcome return: Airto Moreira and Flora Purim
It's been too long since Brazil's king and queen of jazz samba paid their annual state visit to Ronnie's. They're back at last with a band that still combines power and grace like some Copacabanan Rolls-Royce.
Flora sounded a little bronchial (thanks no doubt to our midsummer weather) but looked as slim as in her Return to Forever girlhood. She still does all the talking but Airto issues cymbal-splashes from his drumkit if her revelations become indiscreet.
Their daughter Diana, a fullblown diva, shared the front-line vocals with Flora and duetted with her husband, US percussionist and rapper Krishna Booker, on snappy versions of Living for the Rhythm and the Nina Simone classic, Feeling Good.
Greco Bulato, a young guitarist from kd laing's touring group, proved a valuable find. Steely-toned yet sophisticated, his solos were modern yet ideal for the group.
If it ain't broke, you don't fix it, and certain vital factors hadn't changed, including six-string bass-guitar maestro Gary Brown. His solo on Milton Nascimento's great song, Vera Cruz, was amazing while synthman Kit Walker supplied the heavenly harmonies and Airto fizzed away with a percussive clarity of thought that remains unique. This man would sound great playing a dustbin lid.
Until Saturday (020 7439 0747).
Read the latest reviews from Jack Massarik in the Evening Standard
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
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