Ronnie Scott's: bad news for UK jazz

Subject: Ronnie Scott's: bad news for UK jazz
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 15 Feb 02 - 10:49 AM

Ronnie Scott's--from today's Wolverhampton Express & Star:

Why I must axe Ronnie's
By Birmingham chief reporter Paul Kelly

Birmingham's Ronnie Scott's jazz club owner, Allan Sartori, told today why he was axing the nightspot and re-opening it as an adult entertainment wonderland.
In an exclusive interview with the Birmingham Express & Star, Mr Sartori, aged 52, declared: "Jazz is finished - it's too narrow. It has been retired to public houses."
Now the Broad Street club - which will remain open during a refurbishment - is to be re-named The Rocket Club from mid-March.
The venue is to be transformed into a Las Vegas-style club with table-dancers, new musical acts, cabaret artists and comedians.
Speaking of his critics, Mr Sartori said: "People say they don't want to lose Ronnie Scott's in Birmingham but where have they been all these years?
"All I have been doing is remortgaging the club and working hard to make it work. I am finished with all that.
"I have had 10 years of this and the last two years have been a nightmare. It's time to move on."
He said that Birmingham's rebirth as a major international city meant the place had to cater for more cosmopolitan, sophisticated tastes.
"It is going to be like the clubs in Las Vegas, Rome, Berlin, and like any European capital that is interested in tourism and convention business."
No other Ronnie Scott's venue is affected by the move of Mr Sartori, who will be The Rocket Club's new marketing manager. A new investor has been brought into the city club.
Denying reports that his club was to be turned into a lapdancing club, Mr Sartori said: "I must stress that this is going to be an adult entertainment venue with an element of table-dancing. The club will not be illegal or immoral but, as Kenny Everett said, it will be done in the best possible taste."
The entertainment would be of an "erotic and fantasy nature," he said.
He added: "I'm working with a theatre company to put on for the opening two weeks a shown that's world-renowned and one which Birmingham will be proud to have."

Maybe table dancers would get more people into folk clubs ...

Steve

Subject: RE: Ronnie Scott's: bad news for UK jazz
From: GUEST,BuddyBolden
Date: 15 Feb 02 - 11:18 AM

The places we used to play in Storyville put on more than lap-dancing

Subject: RE: Ronnie Scott's: bad news for UK jazz
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 15 Feb 02 - 01:32 PM

We had table dancers at the York Tap in Simouth one year. Clan na Gael got up and danced a four hand reel on a table while a couple of us stood underneath holding it still.

Subject: RE: Ronnie Scott's: bad news for UK jazz
From: 8_Pints
Date: 15 Feb 02 - 05:05 PM

Sounds like part of the "dumbing down" process to me!

All very sad ...

Bob vG