A New Tempo #1: Blu Jaz Cafe Wants To Keep The Music Alive With Its Kampung Spirit

Blu Jaz Cafe, are you okay? (Credit: Blu Jaz Cafe Facebook page)

Jazz is a weathered, seasoned genre with quite the hardy heritage, having survived past countless ordeals across generations. So how does a local bastion of jazz endure a disaster like COVID-19?

In the debut of our new series, A New Tempo, we check in on none other than Blu Jaz Cafe, the go-to hangout for jazzophiles and casual listeners on the hunt for quality live music. The institution has been a bright beacon for the music scene for over a decade, enlivening the Kampong Gelam enclave with frequent jazz jams, its motley assortment of parties (past residencies have included Good Times and Pushin’On, and a hearty selection of bites and booze.

The Good Times parties at Blu Jaz Cafe were legendary (Credit: Ungku Ibrahim)

Earlier this year, Blu Jaz Cafe even scored a victory when it had its entertainment licence renewed, allowing live music to be performed on its premises once more. This was made possible by a fervent outpouring of support from the community, and a series of appeal letters and petitions to restore the institution to its former glory.

Needless to say, COVID-19 has thrown a monkey wrench in the works, and the beloved establishment is at risk yet again. To see how it’s remained afloat during these tough times, we check in with Aileen Tan, Director of the resilient waterhole. Blu Jaz Cafe, are you okay?

“I miss the live music scene. Blu Jaz has been a stalwart of the live music scene in Singapore for the last decade. Many years ago, I had a dream: to turn Blu Jaz and its vicinity into a live music “village”. In recent years, I encouraged many local musicians to take up busking licences to busk at Haji Lane. The busking scene in Haji Lane became compelling. The spin-offs were priceless. Aside from the economic spin off – attracting tourists and benefitting businesses in the area – it gave Haji Lane its character. Young musicians were able to make a good living, plying their trade to a larger audience in Haji Lane. It became a place where they were able to build their confidence, improve and showcase their talent. My dream came true. Blu Jaz and its vicinity indeed became a buzzing live music enclave, before the pandemic.”

“With the pandemic and the safe management measures, musicians’ livelihoods are now at stake. I feel their pain. They have helped the businesses as well as propelled Haji Lane into fame, and the least that I can do is try to promote them, their music and propel them into fame. Last year, One Kampong Gelam (OKG), of which I am one of the council members, organised Glam Voice, a singing contest for local musicians, together with Singapore Tourism Board. This year, to further promote our talented local musicians, OKG is proposing a songwriting competition. Interested contestants can contact me at aileen@blujaz.net.”

“On a personal basis, my most painful moment was when Blu Jaz and my other businesses along Haji Lane were suspended during the Circuit Breaker period. It was a very difficult three months. Like everyone else, I tried to keep the businesses afloat by riding on food delivery. I tried to stay positive and spent a lot of time researching and improving upon our food menu. My businesses survived the Circuit Breaker period because of government and landlords’ support – four months’ rental waiver, the Job Support Scheme and rebate on foreign worker’s levy.”

“When this pandemic is over, the first thing I am going to do is to activate more venues for live music performances in Kampong Gelam. I have another dream: to convert multiple 2nd storey spaces in Kampong Gelam into small performing spaces for ticketed live music events. Who knows? One day my dream might come true again.”

Blu Jaz Cafe, 11 Bali Lane, Singapore 189848, +65 9199 0610. Do support Blu Jaz Cafe in these hard times.