Sing Jazz 2014 day2: All Star Power and Dirty Loops to keep me at a distance.

Yes I agree I am rushing it, but how long has it been?? Well, well over a month. So it is about time that I am sharing some of my impressions of the Singapore Jazz festival. If you saw my post about Alan Stone already, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did attending, capturing and blogging. And as much as I want to avoid mentioning negative things about the experiences I have, one thing to note that was very confusing to me, and I am sure, others carrying a media pass. Of course I have no experience taking pictures at such events and have no idea how things are organized at other concerts but I personally found the barrier that was created between the audience and the stage a little bit too crazy. 

I remember, last year at Java jazz the space between audience and main stage was maybe a fifth of the distance between the first row and the Sing Jazz main stage. And when Josh Stone nodded it's OK to the security when the fence was breached they stepped back and let things evolve. This wide barrier and the 10+ rows of high end, often empty seats, meant that it was very hard for many musicians to create a sense of intimacy that is so important for, I think especially, jazz music, but also for a festival atmosphere. 

That and a security organization, or individuals that were taking themselves way too seriously as I have seen often before, made it even for media pass holders often tough to get the closer shots.  And so it was when Singapore’s own Jazz divo and diva Jeremy Monteiro and Melissa Tam took the stage with the Asian Jazz All-Star Power quartet, I was initially left banned to the “commoners” ranks, In spite of tireless effort by David before. This was especially a loss, because by the time I negotiated my way into the spacious "safety zone" Melissa, who looked truly stunning, again,

had left the stage... already!!!

 A few more words and I will finish my rant. This week may mark the end of an era that, due to its time span, cannot even be called an era, but it is in the ways it contributed to my enjoyment of live music in Singapore. It is being rumored that the Sultan Jazz club will shut its’ doors permanently. This would be a shame and I will miss it and if you in anyway or form enjoy my blog, than you will miss it too. Many people are wondering why these venues do not thrive in Singapore including me and I may have come to strangely different conclusion.  In my opinion venues and festivals here have been focusing too much on the cigar an whiskey crowd, which in Singapore is sizable but does not have the attention span that is required to get regular attendance. I hope that the organization that will start a next Jazz themed venue will make it more underground or at least down to earth. 

Lower consumption rates will attract more people, more young people and therefore groom a longer lasting audience. I have seen the beginnings of Smalls in New York. A basement, some grungy seating, no staff, some free juices on the bar for when you get desperately thirsty or BYOB. Within a couple of years there were people waiting in line, in freezing cold for 45 minutes to add another 10 dollar bill to the rapidly growing pile in the owners’ hand. Was it successful, I doubt that Mitch got rich and I doubt many of the people playing there are? But both the club and a lot of the musicians earned their fame.

My apologies for my wordiness. I thought I’d give my perspective for a change and not the impression. Many of you may have preferred the "Without further ado" so... here we go! Day two of Sing jazz had Jeremy’s Asian Jazz All-Star Power quartet, Dirty Loops and Incognito. Here are some shots of the first two to lighten and brighten up the post. Incognito I’ll reserve for a separate page.