Cafe Yukari Richmond reviews by real event-goers

Review of Jazz on the Plaza - Renato D'Aiello

Not previously familiar with veteran saxman Renato D'A. but who couldn't warm to such a charming guy with a lovely full tone to his playing, not to mention the bonus of impeccable vocals on a couple of numbers ? Nice selection of standards, including Autumn Leaves (complete with the Cannonball Adderley intro), Jobim's Corcovado, Weaver of Dreams, Body and Soul, If I Should Lose You, Take The A Train and the more scarcely covered Portrait of Jenny. Lovely stuff on a horribly wet evening. Hardly any need to add that there was the guaranteed quality support from Terry Collie and Nick Lenner-Webster on bass.

Review of Jazz on the Plaza - Renato D'Aiello

Review of Dave O'Higgins - Jazz on the Plaza

Asking whether I would recommend a Dave O'Higgins gig is like asking whether I would like to receive a million pounds without any strings attached, so there's not really much to say. One of the foremost tenorists on the UK scene for many years now, with a lovely tone, great improvisational imagination and a thoroughly lovely, approachable bloke. Impeccable choice of numbers, including All Or Nothing At All, (Toots Thielemann's) Bluesette, (Henry Mancini's) Days Of Wine and Roses, Like Someone In Love, (The Duke's) In A Sentimental Mood, a couple of T. Monks (Epistrophy and Blue Monk) and slightly leftfield choices in (Billy Strayhorn's) Chelsea Bridge and (Wayne Shorter's) JuJu. Great stuff, and ably supported by T. Collie Esq on the Fazioli piano and diminutive but percussively dynamic Esther Ng on bass. Not surprisingly a number of punters snapped up Dave's latest cd !

Review of Dave O'Higgins - Jazz on the Plaza

A lovely "local" experience. Just such a pity that the venue is always "overbooked", so we are so crammed together! But all jazz lovers, hence the "Friendly" rating for atmosphere!

Review of Jazz on the Plaza - Sam Walker

I must confess that I wasn't previously aware of Sam Walker's music, but what a revelation. Fantastic technique, lovely fruity tone and excellent choice of standards (plus one original as a loosener to start). As I said to him on the way out, it was like applying John Coltrane's legendary "sheets of sound" to the Great American Songbook - what a great combination. Made even better by the inclusion of some of my favourites, eg. Willow Weep For Me, A Night In Tunisia (or Tooneesia as the Yanks say), Monk's Well You Needn't and two Duke classics: In A Sentimental Mood and Take The A Train. Terry C. often quotes the latter in his solos, so it was nice that he got to play the whole tune ! Great support from him and the ever-reliable and impressive Mark Rose on bass. Why isn't Sam more widely known, or perhaps he is and I need to get out more ?!

Review of Jazz on the Plaza - Sam Walker

This is a lovely way to enjoy a genteel evening of high quality Jazz. The grand piano is sublime and played by the outstanding pianist Terence Collie with an eclectic range of equally talented
guests... I truly recommend this discreet night out

Review of Freddie Gavita - Jazz on the Plaza

Nice crowd, intimate friendly venue, great musicians, fazioli piano and Japanese dishes.

Review of Freddie Gavita - Jazz on the Plaza

Review of Freddie Gavita - Jazz on the Plaza

Review of Freddie Gavita - Jazz on the Plaza

Absolutely first class music. Freddie is a terrific trumpet player and he obviously enjoyed himself playing in this setting. The venue is cramped but the atmosphere is great. We thoroughly enjoyed it

Review of Andy Panayi - Jazz on the Plaza

Highly enjoyable evening at the beatuiful Cafe Yukari courtesy of guest tenorist Andy Panayi ably supported by everyone's favourite local piano hero Terry Collie. Unfortunately Stuart Barker was indisposed but was replaced at very short notice by the diminutive, but sensationally excellent Esther Ng who surely has amongst the fastest hands on the double bass this side of the Atlantic. Nice selection of some familiar, and not so familiar, standards, including Blue Moon, Jobim's seminal Triste, Stella By Starlight, If I Were A Bell, more Braziliana with The Girl From Ipanema, How Deep Is The Ocean and the Duke's Sophisticated Lady. An extra treat were not one, but two Charlie Parker compositions: Donna Lee and the much more obscure Quasimodo. Great stuff.

Review of Andy Panayi - Jazz on the Plaza

Another great evening in Kew. Great location at Cafe Yukari with the wonderful Fasioli piano. Wonderful enthusiastic musicians.

Review of Andy Panayi - Jazz on the Plaza

A great venue and friendly atmosphere. Excellent music! A really enjoyable evening.

Review of Andy Panayi - Jazz on the Plaza

Review of Jazz on the Plaza - Dom Pusey

I wasn't previously aware of Dom Pusey's music, so this performance was a very pleasant surprise. Dom turned out to be a very decent player, specialising in tenor sax and what a sax it was ! A custom-made silver-plated horn which looked like nothing I had ever seen before, but had a lovely warm tone. Dom took us through a very pleasing and varied selection of standards, including Monk's I Mean You, My One and Only Love, Slow Boat To China, Almost Like Being In Love and Ray Noble's classic Cherokee. He also threw in a couple of his own originals which both stood up well plus two tracks not often heard in this kind of setting: an Ornette Coleman blues (Turn Round, or was it Turnaround ?) and Wayne Shorter's JuJu. Great support as always from Terry Collie on the Fazioli piano and the ever-reliable Nick Lenner-Webster on double bass. A very enjoyable evening.

Review of Jazz on the Plaza - Dom Pusey

Great gig in a wonderful intimate venue in Kew. Wonderful way to spend a Sunday evening.

Review of Jazz on the Plaza with Jim Mullen

Nothing much in doubt with any gig involving the legendary Mr Mullen. Nearing four score years, he has surely reached national treasure status and here was even more proof in a wonderful duo with our own Terry Collie. No rehearsals or set list needed, instead an impeccably improvised selection and performance of a string of standards, including Beautiful Love, Angel Eyes, Weaver of Dreams, the gorgeous Soul Eyes (surely the one song that Mal Waldron will forever be remembered for), Stairway To The Stars (or nowadays that should be Stairlift, quipped "Sir" Jim), the beautiful Italian classic Estate plus Someday My Prince Will Come. We were also treated to a terrific samba-based Body and Soul and our hero's unique take on the University Challenge theme tune (graciously acceding to your reviewer's request). And to top all of that he responded to the audience's demand for an encore with a solo version of, what else, I Can't Get Started ! A great end to a memorable evening.

Review of Alban Claret & Terence Collie - Jazz on the Plaza

Very enjoyable evening in the elegant surroundings of Cafe Yukari. Consistently brilliant guitar picking from the excellent French ex-pat supported by ever-reliable Terence on the beautiful Fazioli piano. Nice variety of material ranging from post-bop (my favourites) such as Duke Pearson's Jeannine and George Coleman's Amsterdam After Dark, through classics such as Easy To Remember, Tenor Madness, It Could Happen To You, Tangerine and the slightly controversial Wives and Lovers, to charming ballads including Beautiful Love featuring veteran Mood Indigo songstress Janet McC. What's not to like ?!

Review of Alban Claret & Terence Collie - Jazz on the Plaza

Terence Collie and Alban Claret related brilliantly musically. Alban’s bass comping on guitar freed up Terence Collie for impressive 16-note lyrical and varied rhythmic-patterned soloing lines. Alban’s guitar solos were lyrical and sensuous. Beautiful duo playing. Lovely choice of tunes. Cafe Yukari a perfect venue!

Review of Jazz on the Plaza

Another highly enjoyable evening at the Cafe Yukari with the Mood Indigo team. Chris Hodgkins on trumpet with some great tunes and anecdotes, accompanied by Esther on bass and Terence on piano, and an interlude from guest vocalist Kelly! Great atmosphere and brilliant jazz.