Brown’s Hotel on Albermarle Street in Mayfair is not only one of the most historic establishments in London, it has an atmosphere of elegance all its own; renowned for old-school service and a loyal clientele including the great and the good. If you caught my review of their famous Dover Suite https://www.arbuturian.com/travel/hotels/the-dover-suite-at-browns-hotel you may recall just how impressive the list of writers and notables who have chosen the discretion and class of Brown’s over any five star hotel in London. The only good thing about getting older is being able to boast that I too have been gracing the hotel with my presence for over twenty years and it remains my ambition in life to have a suite named after me.
When I heard that Brown’s were launching a live jazz series, ‘The Drawing Room After Dark’, I knew that it would be every bit as sophisticated as it sounded.
A spot forever to be associated with the hotel’s famous Traditional Afternoon Tea, complete with a cake trolley of delights, The Drawing Room was almost unrecognisable when once the October twilight had turned to darkness, the lights were dimmed and the red velvet curtain screening the room from prying eyes had been drawn. If, like me, you’ve always longed to time-travel to New York in its Jazz Age heyday, when Dorothy Parker was at her wittiest, this is as close as you’ll get on a rainy autumn night in London.
In fact, I was quite content to leave the time-travel and recline on the banquette at which I was seated, sipping Wild Idol with my husband. With shaded lamps and red roses in full bloom on each table to set the scene, there’s a dedicated menu featuring signature wine, cocktails and delicious snacks such as cheese scones with chilli jam to nibble on throughout the performance, while the comfortable seating ensures a relaxing mid-week evening encouraging you to leave the inclement weather and any cares at the door. If you thought getting in from work and sitting on the sofa watching mindless TV was escapism, think again.
The hotel management have not only selected the most brilliant jazz musicians on the London circuit, including Dave Green (who opened the series on 1 October) and Mátyás Gayer, but have given them a free hand creatively. Perhaps this is why you observe a connection between the musicians and the audience right from the first song. We were lucky enough to experience a quartet led by the memorable jazz trumpeter Freddie Gavita, pitching the tone of the evening just right with Liam Dunachie, Dave Whitford and Sam Jesson.
There was no ‘bad song’ I’d have skipped if I’d been listening to it on Spotify, Gavita and crew performed mesmerising, shoulder-swaying works by the greats like Duke Ellington and Chet Baker just as though they were thinking them up on the spot. This is why jazz lovers the world over consider it to be the most hypnotic music; the kind that makes the listener a more tolerant person. We’re all influenced by the setting in which we hear live music and I’d far rather enjoy musicians of this quality at Brown’s than many of the famous jazz clubs in London. Call me impressionable, but red velvet and champagne flutes add a touch of glamour which reinforces the beauty of music which isn’t so much a genre as a lifestyle. What a Wednesday!
The Drawing Room After Dark at Brown’s Hotel, every Tuesday – Thursday evening from 8pm – 11pm until 19 December. For more information and reservations please visit the website.
