Jazz Preview: Blue note as club closes due to falling numbers

However, attendances had been dwindling for some time and the venue, Rotherham Transport Club, could no longer cover the financial shortfalls.

"It is sad, but unavoidable," says organiser Ernest Russell. "We were drawing about 40 people a week and with those kind of numbers it was simply impossible to meet the cost of band fees."

It fell to Peter Franks and his All Stars to play the final chorus at Rotherham but happily the news is more encouraging from two other traditional strongholds in Yorkshire.

Although Leeds Jazz Club, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in September, had a difficult winter when the spell of bad weather forced many people to stay indoors, promoter John Wall reports a satisfactory year overall for the club's Tuesday night sessions at Armley Conservative Club.

Barnsley Jazz Society is enjoying solid support every Monday at Silkstone Lodge.

"The attendances are probably the best we have had in 13 years at the Lodge,"says spokesman Stuart Currie. "Things are going really well."

The autumn season at Huddersfield Jazz continues tomorrow night in the cellar at the Lawrence Batley Theatre with a visit from Zoe Gilby, whose new album, Looking Glass, received excellent reviews and should earn the Whitley Bay singer the wider recognition she deserves.

For tickets call the box office on 01484 430528.