Roy Ayers, Ronnie Scott’s

Vocalist and vibraphone great Roy Ayers, the Godfather of Neo-Soul, is back in London by popular demand to perform genre-defining highlights from his 40 years in the music industry.
Inspired by legendary vibesman Lionel Hampton, Ayers started as an out-and-out jazzer under the tutelage of Bobby Hutcherson, cutting discs for Atlantic Records and performing with major names of the day, among them Chico Hamilton, Phineas Newborn, Gerald Wilson and Herbie Mann, a world music pioneer with a passion for groove.
Yet he’s best known for his role in the development of acid jazz, a fusion of jazz, funk and hip hop, from the 70s onwards and as the author of floor filling hits, among them Everybody Loves the Sunshine, Freaky Deaky, Move To Groove and Searchin'.
Hailed as a visionary by the likes of Erykah Badu (his influence on her output is unmistakeable) and sampled by countless hip hop stars, Ayers’ minimalist grooves have played a key role in determining the direction of modern black music. Still a major force on the scene, in recent years he’s collaborated with everyone from Mary J. Blige to 50 Cent, A Tribe Called Quest, Tupac, Ice Cube and Kanye West.
Ayers is a regular at Ronnie Scott’s. He recorded a raft of live albums there throughout the 1990s and early 2000s and he’s guaranteed a hero’s welcome when he returns this August. Make sure you’re there to greet him.