Jazz Clubs and Jazz Fans

Jazz fans always clamor for a jazz clubs to be set up in their home towns.

Then when the club is set up, the very people who grumble about not having a jazz club are the very ones who don't go.

In Singapore, rents are so expensive so if one of the 20,000 odd jazz fans in Singapore don't make it a point to go to a jazz club 2 or 3 times a month and have a couple of drinks, the club owners suffer and cannot afford to keep it going.

In recent weeks, I have heard from friends in Singapore that the attendances at Jazz@Southbridge and Harry's Boat Quay have gone down significantly.

The Regent Hotel Bar where I play regularly with Tamagoh and Brian Benson when I am not touring, has also not seen good attendances this year.

I know time are hard, but if you are a jazz fan and wish to see the Jazz Clubs in Singapore stay around, remind yourself in a note-to-self to go support your local jazz clubs 2 or 3 times a month if you can manage it.

Sometimes, we forget they are there so put a note somewhere or reminder on your phone calendar so that you don't forget that these jazz clubs or there, or one day, they won't be, which will be sad I think.

I sometime get strangers come up to me who say..."Hey...I am one of your biggest fans!" I smile and say, "really? Great! How many CDs of mine do you own or have listened to?" They the say..."errr....umm, sorry I don't have any of your CDs and I haven't heard your music...I just read about you in the newspapers". Or WORSE still, they grin innocently and say "Oh...I have downloaded 3 of your albums for free from the internet!".

Sigh...I just smile and repeat Jesus' words to myself...."forgive them for they know not what they do".

Of course, there ARE the loyal jazz fans who do support the clubs, concerts and my work and to those people, I thank you for your loyal support.