James Oldham, Jeff Barrett, Richard Williams, Brian Case. Ronnie Scott’s, Wednesday 27 May.

“The first time I went to Ronnie’s it was 7 shillings and 6 pence to get in. Bloody hell, they’re coming it! It was the Old Place. The first place I heard Dexter Gordon. Bloody hell, that was worth 7 and 6. Dex was drunk and I was smack up against the bandstand, on the level with his enormous shoes. They were stomping slowly, about half the time of the rhythm he wanted. It meant something to him. He was singing a lot. He liked to do that, especially if he’d had a drink or two. He was blowing…Jesus, it was wonderful. It was ’61. I thought, ‘This is the place to be.’ Brian Case on Ronnie Scott’s club.

Last Wednesday afternoon, Ronnie Scott’s was once again the place to be when we gathered at this inimitable Soho institution, to raise a glass to Brian Case and celebrate the publication of his book, On the Snap.

On the Snap, is a unique and remarkable collection of snapshots from the world of jazz, film and crime fiction, subjects that, as a critic, Brian wrote about with precision and authority for over three decades.

The foreword to the book comes from Richard Williams, once Brian’s editor at the Melody Maker and a seriously good writer himself (as updates from his blog frequently testify). Richard shone as MC for the occasion, setting the stage for Brian to prove himself a natural storyteller of the highest order. It was a memorable occasion and certainly one of the most enjoyable book launches I’ve ever attended.

On the Snap is published by Caught by the River and available to buy exclusively from our shop now, ahead of general publication on 11 June.

Thanks to Brian David Stevens for the phototographs, and to Paul and Fred at Ronnie’s for their help in making it happen.

Brian with the book’s designer, Lora Findlay