Jazz notes

Since the hotel began booking regular jazz in the Chaplin’s Bar Restaurant in June last year, fans have had the treat of hearing the music in the stylish comfort of one of York’s major hotels. Now Chaplin’s Bar is no more and jazz is following the same route. We can only guess that the reasons are down to economics. Live music is expensive and it depends solely on income from the sale of food and drinks, since few pubs, restaurants or hotels receive Arts Council funding for music.

Although the jazzer of myth (and occasionally the flesh and blood version) is a great imbiber of food and drink, it is the till receipts which tell the real story. When bar takings struggle to reach £60 for a jazz evening in a pub, restaurant or hotel and that is repeated over weeks, the writing is on the wall.

Tonight’s penultimate session at Middleton’s will be at 8.30pm with Bejazzled and the final session next Thursday will be with the Mardi Gras Band (01904 611570).

As Jazz Notes has mentioned many times, York fans are in the unique position of having several jazz sessions every week which do not charge entrance fees because the venue is subsidising the band. In Leeds, Hull, Scarborough and beyond, bands are paid from door charges which range from a nominal £3 up to £8, £10 or £15. Jazz in the Spa has been running for over 25 years, but has only survived by charging entrance fees, on average £8 and up to £10 or £12 for major attractions.

At the next gig you attend, have a quick check on the number of people and drinks sold, including those who sit with an orange juice over the evening (a non-judgemental jazz version of Drinkaware). When that brave person selling raffle tickets comes around, dig deep and thank your lucky stars that the musicians are probably playing for peanuts, plus whatever the raffle may bring.

All the more reason to support all the great musicians in York. After tonight with Bejazzled, keen traditional jazzers will be travelling to Boston Spa on Saturday to pay £8 to hear the Chicago Teddy Bears Society Jazz Band (01937 844898). Sunday jazz in York begins at 1pm with John Marley, Paul Smith and guests at Kennedy’s Café Bar, Little Stonegate (01904 620222).

There is a special invitation for a 1920s, Gatsby-style event at the Lord Mayor’s residence, York Mansion House on Tuesday with the After Hours Rauchestra and friends. A spin-off from the Theatre Mill production of The Importance of Being Earnest, period dress is encouraged, tickets £12 and concessions from 01904 623568 and www.theatreroyal.co.uk

More details from the jazzinyork/events website. The jazz jam continues at the Phoenix Inn, George Street, on Wednesday at 8.00pm (091904 656401). Go and throw some money at the band, preferably folding stuff. You know they are worth it.