It is perhaps the most famous place in the city where jazz music is still played: Café The Cotton Club on the Nieuwmarkt. Still: because tonight is the last time it is allowed. According to the municipality, the café exceeds the noise standards. The café will continue with a noise protest tonight after 7 p.m. to draw attention to the issue.
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The history of The Cotton Club dates back to the early years of the last century. The club was founded in the roaring 1920s, a period of cultural flourishing and social change. It is inspired by the iconic Cotton Club in Harlem, New York.
In the years that followed it became a breeding ground for various jazz musicians and, above all, musical innovation. It even welcomed famous artists such as Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington and many others, all of whom contributed to the club’s legendary status.
“Residents come together here on Saturday afternoons to listen to good music together”
Jelle Oortman Gerlings – musician
The Cotton Club has had several moments where jazz was in danger of disappearing. From the occupation during the Second World War until the moment a new owner wanted to turn it into a tourist tent.
End of live music?
And that is now threatening again. The sound value of the jazz music that is heard every Saturday appears to be too high. The municipality took a measurement on February 10, which appeared to be below the limit of 35 dB. Because the measurement was taken during the construction and dismantling of the nearby market, it still had to be corrected and was still too high: 39.9 dB.
The Cotton Club has been located on the Nieuwmarkt – AT5 for almost a century
The measurement seems to be the last note of the live music in the business. The municipality now imposes a penalty of 2,500 euros for every time live music is played.
According to musician and spokesperson for the protest Jelle Oortman Gerlings, the soul of the club is in danger of disappearing: “This café is of course intertwined with living music.” He emphasizes that noise pollution easily occurs in the old buildings around the Waag. “These buildings are like shoe boxes, the walls are so thin. Insulating costs a lot of money.”
Jazz-protest
As far as Oortman Gerlings is concerned, the last note has not yet been played. He is organizing a jazz protest on Saturday evening to draw attention to how important live music is for the neighborhood. “Residents come together here on Saturday afternoons to listen to good music together.”
The protest is therefore not intended to hinder the (complaining) neighbors. He knows that the music can be loud. “With the new owner, contact with the neighborhood has been lost and that must be restored.” However, without jazz this will not be possible. That is the connecting note.
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2024-04-13 11:02:53
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