Nostalgia nights

The place downs shutters for a month in mid-September.Though the owner,popular restaurateur Sanjay Narang is yet to announce the detailed plan for renovation,he has admitted in the past that the new avatar will continue with live music acts. “Though I can’t reveal much about our plans for renovation,be assured that it will cater to the evolving set of clientele’s tastes. Live music will definitely be a part of it,” confirms Narang.

However,a source close to the management revealed that the owners plan to reduce the number of live acts down to two or three nights in a week. “It is chiefly going to be an eatery with the menu an extension of what the popular restaurant on the premises,Pizzeria,serves and items like salad pizza will be on the menu. Ever since places like,Blue Frog,started hosting live acts,the concept was not working out as a profitable proposition for NJJBTB. But Pizzeria has always been popular and witnesses a long waiting queue every night. So I believe it makes more sense to expand on what works for them,” the source said. Also,the renovated version,to expand on its seating,will downsize its original bar,which has been extremely popular for its aged whiskeys and vast variety of other alcohol and the view it provided of the stage.

Unhappy with the news of their old favourite changing form,many of the patrons made it a point to attend the Banks’ performance on Friday,followed by jazz artistes Merlyn D’Souza and Vivian Pocha on Saturday. The pub witnessed a 100 per cent reservation for the weekend,pointed out manager Joe Sequeira. “Of course,a feeling of nostalgia grips me tonight as I see one of the last big acts being performed here. For years I’ve visited NJJBTB,so many times making my way past the packed room,to the bar,” says Joe Alvares,a regular at the pub for over a decade and also one of the performers on the pub’s monthly roster.

Shuba Mohapatra,29,has returned for the Friday night gig with friends after three years. “I was a regular at least twice a week and I’ve had some memorable evenings at NJJTB back in college days. I still remember that anyone who came regularly became a part of the ‘family’. Then I shifted to the suburbs and the line-up was not interesting enough to pull me.” She says that the switch also happened because places like Hard Rock Café and Blue Frog offer more space,better sound systems and good music talent. “Pubs work on loyal clientele,and one cannot afford to lose out on it. Instead of reducing the number of live music nights,the renovated pub should up the quality and space offered,” she adds as she exchanged pleasantries with the old staff.

But Banks is of the opinion that the most glorious days of this enterprise ended back in 1998 when it stopped being a jazz club. “After it’s opening,I spent two years playing here almost every other night till it was rechristened as Not Just Jazz by the Bay to include other genres of music. The quality of music kept declining because musical talent in India is still evolving.”

But others,like Alvares,are more hopeful. He says,“This place has always remained a landmark on Mumbai’s geography,even back in the 1960s when it was called Talk of the Town. I am sure whatever the new plan is,it will revive the place in the best way possible.”