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FUN MAGAZINE, November, 2005.
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Blue
Note
171, Roosevelt Road, Sec. 3,
4F
Tel: (02) 2362-2333
Hours: 7 pm-12:30 am
Minimum Charge: Tues.-Thurs. NT$300 (exchangable
for drinks); Fri./Sat. NT$350 entry fee (with
one drink); Credit cards not accepted.
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--By Timothy Liang Translated by Cara
Steenstra
This story starts with owner Cai Ba,
whose passion for jazz inspired him to name his pub
after the famed jazz label, Blue Note. His fourth-floor
music mecca emphasises pure jazz and does not allow
pop music to get mixed in. Their neon sign, which often
doesn't work, reflects 30 years of accumulated self-confidence
since their establishment in 1974.
Blue Note is not very big, but is well-adorned
with posters of musicians. Cai Ba says that the decorations
at Blue Note are aimed at giving customers a "total
jazz feeling", with a wall covered entirely with
jazz CDs and a mural of jazz bands next to it. Cai Ba's
jazz collection is very extensive. Whether it's an early
vinyl record or a modern CD from America or anywhere
in the world, it is quite possibly part of Cai Ba's
proud collection.
There are regular live jazz band performances
Tuesday to Saturday evenings from 9:30 p.m. onwards.
Bands include the Uno Quartet, the New Decision Quartet
and the Metamorphosis Jazz Band. On Saturday evenings,
the Uno Quartet perform with the Jive Stakes.
The menu at Blue Note has a jazz theme, too. Many cocktails
are named after classic jazz numbers such as John Coltrane's
"Blue Train" (NT$290), which is a mix of Blue
Curacao and lime juice. Another cocktail, a mix of lychee
liqueur and orange juice, was named after the bluesy
love song that has been around since 1923, "Let's
Fall in Love" (NT$290).
Blue Note does not hesitate to let newcomers
perform and, over the last 30 years, many musicians
have been cultivated here, contributing to the growth
and development of Taiwan's jazz scene. Although Cai
Ba frets about the future of Taiwan's jazz music development,
you can tell from the way he talks that his enthusiasm
and determination have not diminished at all. Whether
you feel like enjoying a spot of pure jazz or just personally
experience a slice of Taiwanese jazz history and development,
Blue Note will always be there.
 
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