Letters of Support (printed from emails received)

1. From Mr Jay Feeney
To whom this may concern,
I have been involved in Edinburgh's Jazz scene for a number of years now, having programmed Jazz at Blue Note Records' Beat Jazz Basement and Cabaret Voltaire. When Bill Kyle first told me about his potential plans for the Jazz Bar project I thought it was a fantastic idea as not only is the Jazz Bar a perfect venue to house some of the out of town acts he proposes to bring up, it also currently plays host to many of Scotland's key jazz performers and has done since it first opened it's doors. Bill has been championing Scottish jazz for what seems like a lifetime now and I couldn't think of anyone more suitable and trusted to a set up a project like this. I sincerely hope that the bar’s success helps put Scottish Jazz back on the map.
Best wishes,
Jay Feeney
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2. From Mr Norman Angus
To whom it may concern,
It is my belief that, with very few exceptions, The Jazz Bar since it’s inception in July ’05 has provided the most appropriate atmosphere for hosting jazz performances in the Edinburgh for the past 30 years. Other venues have failed, in my opinion, to have supplied a ‘club’ atmosphere and thereby satisfied the expectations of audiences. This may well be a contributory reason for these other venues no longer hosting jazz performances. The Jazz Bar creates a more relaxed, intimate and less concert like environment in which an audience member can ‘connect’ better with the performers.
Performances at the Jazz Bar are thoughtfully programmed, providing a wide variety of styles to meet a broad range of tastes. Many of these performances have created a platform to introduce young, up and coming, players to an audience of equally young and receptive ears. The venue has additionally, hosted a number of national and international touring bands, all of which have been filled to capacity.
The quality of the program content is a testament to the commitment of the Jazz Bar to extend the appeal of jazz within Edinburgh.
Yours faithfully
Norman Angus
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3.From Undisclosed
Dear Bill
As a Jazz fan I would like to take this opportunity to say a few words about your venue. I have visited many Jazz clubs worldwide, and would like to compliment you on “The Jazz Bar” and its varied and exciting programme over the last year. The inclusive policy you operate has given many Scottish Jazz Musicians a platform they might not have had, and has welcomed listeners who otherwise might not have considered themselves part of a jazz audience.
I also fully support your idea for a series of special ticketed events, which will build on these successes and invigorate the Scottish Jazz scene.
Yours sincerely
Name withheld
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4. From Mr Nick Gould
Dear Bill
I am delighted to see things are continuing to go well with your new venue, I think you and your team are doing an excellent job in not only keeping jazz alive and well but also providing opportunity for local players and upcoming new players.
One of the things you have done particularly well in my opinion is to expand the listening audience and make the music attractive to young people. This is so important for the future of jazz in the UK and is often very hard to address in the current climate.
I am sure that you will find an excellent audience for musicians of the calibre you have been talking about. The recent performance by Gerry Bergonzi and Ravi Coltrane should be proof enough that you have a winning formula. From my own point of view it is fantastic to see musicians of this calibre appearing in Edinburgh.
Please keep me informed of future developments.
Kindest regards
Nick Gould
Saxophonist
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5. From Ms Jess Abrams
Dear Bill
The Jazz Bar is a great venue. I have been to many gigs there and it is a welcoming, relaxing environment to both listen to and play jazz. One of the aspects about the Jazz Bar that features highly for me is that local musicians are given regular opportunity to play. This is so needed in this town and allows people to collaborate and evolve musically. I have also enjoyed the nights when special guest artists are featured and I am happy to pay to see them.
We need this venue to ensure that the Edinburgh/Scottish jazz scene continues to develop and feature both local and International talent. I hope the support continues to grow, and that there will be more opportunity for international artists to play Edinburgh, and for Scottish (and rest of UK) musicians to play on home turf and audiences to hear and appreciate a wide variety of artists.
The market for jazz seems to be growing rapidly and includes a much younger demographic than in previous years. The Jazz Bar draws this young and enthusiastic crowd. They will benefit highly from exposure to new artists and/or new material. I wish you success with your endeavours to ensure that this development comes to fruition. Please let me know if I can be of any further help.
Sincerely
Jess Abrams
Vocalist
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6. From Mr Pat Quinn
Dear Bill,
For my money, you have so far done wonders at the Jazz Bar for the jazz community in Scotland. You have not only provided a great amount of lucrative work for local musicians (and, heaven knows, they need it!), but have also widened the jazz audience by providing a first-rate venue.
However, it is clear that the law of diminishing returns applies to Scottish musicians if they are featured alone on a regular basis. Therefore, it is probably imperative that you continue to import well-known musicians from outside Scotland; and use local people as their sidemen. This will certainly keep audiences happy (and growing) and local musicians gainfully employed. I think you proved the efficacy of this at The Bridge; and but for a quirk of fate, you would by now be running one of the most sought-after venues by musicians from abroad.
But perhaps the real benefit of featuring musicians from outside Scotland is that the general standard of local musicianship will increase in direct proportion to the number of guests you can bring in. As you well know, when you are working with great musicians, your own game goes up proportionally!
Most sincerely,
Pat Quinn
Drummer
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7. From Mr Alex Dillon
To Whom it May Concern
The recently opened Jazz Bar in Chambers Street, Edinburgh is an excellent, intimate performance space and Edinburgh is fortunate to have a venue where first-rate jazz can be heard not only at weekends, but also through the week.
This venue has featured many of our emerging talents as well as some more established musicians. On a recent Monday evening I was privileged to hear Belgian-based US bassist Reggie Washington playing with the excellent Ravi Coltrane, son of the great John Coltrane. I was delighted to see so many young people, some of them from the current music scene. If anyone had told me at the outset of my association with jazz (quite some time now!) that I would be able to hear anything like this on a Monday evening in Scotland I would not have believed them.
Perhaps the most valuable contribution this club makes is the open and inclusive welcome given to the younger musicians arriving on the scene. Without places like this improvisational music cannot ever prosper.
Without Bill’s unstinting efforts we quite simply would not have the jazz scene we are fortunate to be able to take for granted in Scotland. For almost four decades now Bill has played and promoted contemporary music in this country and many of our best young musicians owe their current status to his support and encouragement.
I strongly support the programme of The Jazz Bar. It continue to bring the best of current young talent to Edinburgh, but will play a major part in bringing on the next generation who will form part of the audience.
Yours sincerely
Alex Dillon

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