On 13 October, British film director Oliver Murray’s documentary about the legendary London jazz club, Ronnie’s: Ronnie Scott and His World-Famous Jazz Club (2020), is back on the Skalvija screen.

It tells the story of a venue that has been a stage for the greatest jazz legends for six decades, a pioneer of transatlantic musical exchange and a supporter of Black musicians. Chet Baker, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Van Morrison, Buddy Rich and Nina Simone have all performed here, whilst Jimi Hendrix gave his final performance here. The film brings to life stunning archive footage and moments from exceptional performances, while legends of the music industry, including Quincy Jones and Sonny Rollins, share their thoughts.

Inspired by the vibrant post-war jazz clubs on 52nd Street in New York, the renowned tenor saxophonist Ronnie Scott, together with his fellow musician and business partner Peter King, founded Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London’s Soho district. Scott was one of the finest saxophonists in Europe and one of the first British musicians to be greatly influenced by Charlie Parker.

Murray’s film not only captures the history of the famous club and the legacy of its visionary founder, but also reveals the lifelong, ultimately lost, battle with depression that accompanied Scott throughout his life. Ronnie’s unexpected suicide in 1996 left the jazz community without its long-standing leader, but his legacy lives on – Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club remains one of the world’s most important centres for jazz.