Blu Jaz Cafe defies own expectations and continues to thrive, more than a year after ban on live gigs

SINGAPORE — When the news first broke last October that a stalwart of the entertainment scene, Blu Jaz Café, had its public entertainment licence cancelled, patrons and performers alike were dismayed.

Many questioned how the bar, which lost its entertainment licence due to complaints of high noise levels and overcrowding, could survive without the live gigs that had made the joint so vibrant.

Even its owner, Ms Aileen Tan, had told the media then that the outlet might have to close. The rent was high and the business may not be sustainable without entertainment.

The bar’s appeal to get its entertainment licence back was rejected on the eve of the new year.

Despite the initial doom and gloom, the bar has defied even its own expectations and continues to thrive more than a year later.

When TODAY visited the 14-year-old bar located on the corner of Bali Lane in the Kampong Glam district on Friday (Dec 13) at around 7pm, it was pretty crowded in spite of the torrential downpour.

A rough count showed there were at least 30 patrons within the establishment’s indoor sitting area on the ground floor, which meant that most of the tables were occupied.

The staff were either busying themselves attending to customers, or ferrying food up to two private events being held on the upper floors.

Barely audible over the din of the traffic were the warm and bright tunes of a saxophone that was piped through the bar’s speakers. Along the alley beside the bar, a busker crooned.

Found near the entrance facing Ophir Road was a stage that still spotted a drum kit, a microphone stand and a keyboard holder, among other things, that served as a forlorn reminder the bar was once a home to jazz bands, comedy nights and open mic poetry sessions.

As the minutes passed, more patrons showed up, seeking either nourishment or a place to nurse a cold pint with quiet company.

Even though the rain showed no signs of abating, most of the outdoor dining tables covered by the awnings were occupied by 10pm. Along the alley, TODAY counted at least another 30 patrons.

DRAWN BY THE FOOD AND SERVICE

When TODAY asked patrons what it was about Blu Jaz Café that still appealed to them, the answer that popped up most frequently was the food and the service. Live performances would have been nice, but they were largely unbothered by the lack of it.

Ms Elycia Ang, 37, said the quality and wide variety of food was a draw for her.

Aside from the standard finger food found at most bars, Blu Jaz Cafe also offers a steady selection of local, western and Mediterranean dishes.

“Most drinking places don’t serve this much food,” said Ms Ang, who has been returning to the bar at least once a month for the last four years.

“I used to enjoy their music from before… but it did make the place very crowded,” said the consultant, who was at the bar to catch up with a friend.

Mr Jeremy de Oliverio, a 34-year-old Sydney native, first visited the bar some four years ago and has been returning ever since to meet up with friends whenever he was in Singapore.

Mr de Oliverio, a banker who has been working in Singapore for the last 10 months, said the live music from the bar gave the Kampong Glam area character. It was a shame that its public entertainment licence was cancelled, he added.

“I think it’s bad for the culture, but if that’s the way it has to be, that’s the way it has to be I guess,” he said.

Nonetheless, he pointed out there was still live music around the corner, “just not as loud”.

In the alley between Haji Lane and Ophir Road, just steps away from the bar, a busker was belting out a soulful rendition of Roberta Flack’s 1973 hit, Killing Me Softly With His Song.

Just metres away along Haji Lane itself were two more groups of musicians who were strumming their guitars under the covered walkways in front of the shophouses.

For first time customers Pang Rou Zhen and Jacques Gui, both aged 25, it was the bar’s good food and service reviews that brought them to Blu Jaz Cafe that night.

“I thought there was going to be live music (from the bar),” said Ms Pang, a business analyst. “But I’m not really disappointed. It would have been a bonus if there were.”

Mr Gui, on the other hand, was glad for its absence.

“I like talking to my friends,” said the pilot. “If there’s music, I find it very disruptive… I’ll just end up hearing only the music and not my friends.”

BUILDING CULTURE IN HAJI LANE

Blu Jaz Café’s owner, Ms Tan, declined to comment on whether the bar would be reapplying for its public entertainment licence.

However, Mr Anuj, the bar’s sales and marketing manager, said the focus is now on promoting the “arts, food and drinks”. Ms Tan is also the treasurer for the One Kampong Gelam precinct association, and owns eight restaurants along both Haji and Bali Lane.

Two recent events the association was involved in during September was a singing competition for buskers and the Haji Lane Block Party.

“Our focus is to build (culture in) Haji Lane,” said Mr Anuj, who goes by only one name. “This indirectly benefits all establishments of Haji Lane.”

In terms of food, Mr Anuj said the bar recently added a North Indian menu to its range of cuisines.

“It gives a lot of variety for people to experience within one vicinity,” he said.

While TODAY was unable to verify if all of the bar’s food was indeed as good as the patrons claimed it to be, the lone plate of moussaka that the reporter paid for was definitely something he would order again.

That, combined with a cup of hot coffee and the friendliness of the staff, was enough to warm him on a cold, dreary night.