Travel season is in full effect. If you’re itching to get away and need a little inspiration when it comes to figuring out where you want to go, we’re here to help. Not too long ago, we told you about some of the world’s best jazz festivals. But if festivals aren’t really your scene, a jazz club or concert venue can offer the same excitement on a smaller scale. And you can catch some special performances from local or even famous jazz musicians on a whim.
Not sure where to go? Here are a few suggestions.
Preservation Hall
726 St. Peter St., New Orleans, LA
When you’re a true jazz fan, it only makes sense to check out the scene in the birthplace of the genre — New Orleans. Located in the French Quarter, Preservation Hall has served as the cornerstone of New’s Orleans’ music and culture since 1961. It’s open nightly with concerts at 8, 9 and 10 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. Additional 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. performances are offered Thursday through Sunday. While the space is pretty cool and a throwback to days gone by, it’s also fairly small. So before you swing by, grab your tickets online for the show you want to see. Or if you love living on the edge, you can show up 30- to 45-minutes before the show and buy General Admission tickets.
Dizzy’s Club
10 Columbus Cir, New York, NY
Tony Bennett called Dizzy’s Club “The best jazz room in the City.” With its gorgeous views of Central Park and Manhattan’s skyline, delicious food and affordable prices, we’d have to agree with Tony. Dizzy’s Club is Jazz at Lincoln Center’s more intimate performance venue and offers the city’s best sets from jazz musicians nightly. Set times are usually around 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m, with late-night sets at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Dizzy’s Club doesn’t have a box office and you don’t need tickets to get in. However, you can always call or order tickets online just to be safe. Dizzy’s seats 140 people, so you’ll get a truly intimate jazz experience in an ultra-cool venue.
Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley
2033 6th Avenue, Seattle, WA
Just a few years ago, DownBeat Magazine voted Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley as one of the top 100 jazz clubs in the world. And it doesn’t hurt to have famous jazz musicians like Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Peterson, Betty Carter, and Bill Evans on past performance rosters either. Jazz Alley got its start back in 1980 in Seattle’s University District. Its first incarnation offered an intimate bistro setting that attracted a very diverse clientele. Fast forward to now, and Jazz Alley boasts a state of the art sound system, an expanded stage, orchestra pit style tiered floor and the addition of more than 100 seats. Those seats are all within 50-feet of the stage, so you know you’ll get an awesome live performance experience. If you’re thinking about hitting a weekend show, it’s highly recommended that you make a reservation online or call to reserve a seat.
Baker’s Keyboard Lounge
20510 Livernois Ave, Detroit, MI
Baker’s Keyboard Lounge has a long history of presenting local and famous jazz musicians to the Detroit area. It originally started as a sandwich shop back in 1933. By 1939, the venue was booking performers from all over. These acts included Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Oscar Peterson and Nat King Cole. Baker’s offers excellent acoustics, the intimacy of 99 seats, and Art Deco furnishings, including a distinctive, piano-shaped bar painted with a keyboard theme. Known as “the world’s oldest jazz club,” Baker’s was designated as a Historic Site by the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office due to its reputation for being the state’s jazz mecca, and the fact that it’s Detroit’s oldest jazz club.
These are just a few picks to get you started. Check back for more suggestions that’ll satisfy your travel bug.
