Jazz breaking news: Blue Train collapses
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Stamford Street jazz club Blue Train, in Southwark, has closed, just months after its ill-starred launch.
The central London club began with a busy singers-led burst of activity featuring many leading performers, and even booked crooner Mitch Winehouse for New Year’s Eve. A statement on the club’s website dated 24 February says: “Apologies. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, we regret that we will not be open this weekend. As soon as we can give you more info we will.”
The club opened with a launch featuring singer Natalie Williams, but Blue Train had soft launched in somewhat shambolic fashion last summer frequently changing its plans and eventually putting them off until the winter. The music manager, Birmingham-based trumpeter Ray Butcher, left his position some weeks ago. 
The club’s owners have not made any public comment and remain illusive. The club's phone just rings out. Blue Train was located on the site of a former Indian restaurant and near the landmark King's Reach Tower building. It operated along with a sister restaurant on the site, which also booked jazz duos, with the new jazz lounge the main club venue.
Musicians who played there expressed their concern on social networking sites at the collapse of the club. Singer Juliet Kelly, one of the musicians to perform there last year said presciently following its opening: “The Blue Train is quite a small room and will be difficult to make financially viable if the owner doesn’t work hard to get a lot of promotion.” Kelly says, following news of the closure, that she is “sad, but not surprised, to hear that the Blue Train jazz club has closed. Hope everyone got paid.”
– Stephen Graham