FOLLOWING A SUCCESSFUL 3RD AYR JAZZ FESTIVAL, THE COMMITTEE DECIDED THAT IT WAS TIME THAT WE HAD A NEW AYR JAZZ CLUB. AND SO IT WAS THAT ON 26TH MAY 2005 THE NEW AYR JAZZ CLUB OPENED ITS DOORS AT THE MASONIC CLUB, FULLARTON STREET.
THE BAND ON THE FIRST NIGHT INCLUDED LOCAL CORNETIST MIKE DALY, TROMBONIST JACKIE MURRAY, BANJO PLAYER KIT CAREY AND LEX ALLEN ON SOUSAPHONE. MIKE'S LONG-STANDING FRIEND JOHN SERVICE (TROMBONE) MADE A GUEST APPEARANCE.
THE EVENING WENT WITH A SWING AND ATTRACTED ALMOST 50 POTENTIAL MEMBERS AND THROUGHOUT THE FIRST YEAR MANY MORE JAZZ LOVERS JOINED THE RANKS.
INDEED, AS THE CLUB COMMENCED ITS SECOND YEAR AND BIGGER, WELL-KNOWN BANDS WERE INTRODUCED, THE ORIGINAL VENUE SUDDENLY BECAME TOO SMALL AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS HAVE USED THE LARGER FACILITIES AT THE ELMS COURT HOTEL, MILLER ROAD.
MANY GREAT NIGHTS HAVE BEEN APPRECIATED BY THE MEMBERS INCLUDING VISITS BY BRIAN CARRICK & HIS HERITAGE HALL STOMPERS, GEORGE PENMAN BAND WITH ALISTAIRE MCDONALD, THE PERDIDO STREET JAZZMEN TO NAME BUT A FEW.
THE CLUB LOOK FORWARD TO MANY OTHER "GREATS"