Singer Cindy Douglas has come up with a novel way of combining two of her passions – food and jazz – and serving them up to people in rural communities as pop-up jazz supper clubs. Photos by Alicia Bruce.
On a recent trip to New York, Cindy observed that citizens of the Big Apple can go out for dinner and enjoy jazz at the same time in intimate and sophisticated surroundings, whereas jazz in Scotland tends to be presented in formal concert halls and arts centres or in pubs where the jazz is relegated to being background music.
Following the trend in larger towns and cities for pop-up cafes and restaurants, the Netherley-based singer has devised Eat to the Beat, a jazz supper club that will pop up initially in villages in Aberdeenshire and the Mearns.
On the menu will be great food from a roster of high-class chefs, and fine jazz from Cindy Douglas and her musicians, in locations where jazz concerts are a rarity. The plan is to roll out the project throughout Scotland and beyond.
“I think of Ronnie Scott’s in London and The Blue Note and The Village Vanguard in New York, and these are places where food is part of the experience that makes going out more of an event,” says Cindy, whose singing style has been described as exuberant, mesmerising and versatile and whose repertoire covers jazz standards and original songs.
“Village halls in Scotland may be miles away from these venues in every sense but I think we can give people in these communities an opportunity to socialise and make their night out one to remember for all the right reasons.”
Experience Eat to the Beat on
23 November 2013, 19:30
Auchenblae Village Hall,
Monboddo Street,
Auchenblae AB30 1XQ
Tickets: £25, includes a 2 course meal
29 November 2013, 19:30
Touched By Scotland,
Ryehill Cottage Oyne,
Insch, AB52 6QS
Tickets: £25, includes a 2 course meal
What the critics say about Cindy Douglas…
– Singer-led jazz with a smile on its face. The Musician
– The extremely talented vocalist sings with all her heart and soul and her glamorous voice reflects that. Jazz Beat, Voice of America
– Explores everything from bebop to swing to world music … the song arrangements are full of captivating detail. Jazzwise
For further information on the Eat to the Beat pop-up jazz supper club, contact Cindy on 07840 884973 or by email at cindy@cindydouglas.co.uk
Website: www.cindydouglas.co.uk
Youtube: http://youtu.be/RpOO8LfPQR8
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CindyDouglasJazzVocals
Twitter: https://twitter.com/douglascindy
All pictures © Alicia Bruce
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