Blues in Asia

[Thomas_B._Colvin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

     Recent postings by Hugh and Cheng Ann suggests there's a sliver of 
     interest about Harp/Blues in Asia.  There's not much happening, but 
     here are a few items I've picked up.
     
     HONG KONG:  There's a foreign harp player named Alan Japp, I hear, who 
     has a band called the South Asia Blues Agency, which plays once a week 
     in Hong Kong.  This fellow also arranged to bring in Charlie 
     Musselwhite for a concert a year or so ago -- and he was unable to 
     sell enough tickets for fill up a small venue (400 seats, I was told). 
      I hope to track Japp down in mid-November during a quick trip to HK 
     -- I may have more info then about the HK scene.
     
     GUAM:  Strong American influence there, of course.  There is a Blues 
     Society in Guam that has been sponsoring (at least up to a few months 
     ago) a weekly jam at a beachside bar.  There are a few good harp 
     players there, I'm told.
     
     BB KING had a very successful, sold-out concert in Bangkok a couple 
     years ago, indicating there is some interest in blues there.
     
     MTV reached Asia a couple years ago, and the music scene out here is 
     changing quickly these days.  More western groups are getting exposure 
     here; and Asian groups are beginning to develop a regional, not just a 
     local following.  A UK-based organization has started the 
     International Music Markets.  IMM sponsors an annual convention in 
     Singapore in June to bring together promoters, record companies and 
     other music-business types from Asia, Europe and North America.  They 
     now put out IMM News, published 6 times a year ($85.00).  They've also 
     published a Directory.  Address:
     
        IMM News, Reader Enquiries
        International Music Markets, Ltd.
        245 Old Marylebone Road, Longdon NW1 5QT
        United Kingdom
     
     Clapton's new album is already in record shops in Manila and probably 
     throughout Asia.  This may trigger more interest in blues and the harp 
     out here.
     
     Cheng Ann, can any of your Kuala Lumpur contacts send you information 
     about the blues-oriented bands there, and about the clubs they play 
     in?  Also, there was an article in the Straits Times about clubs in 
     Singapore that have adopted a live-jazz policy.  I can track it down 
     in my files if you need that information.
     
     Lastly, does anyone know how to find out about US blues and jazz 
     artists who are coming out this way BEFORE they come?  I always learn 
     about them after they've come and gone.
     
     tomcat