Jazz Clubs.
Venue Phone: 312-642-6805
Venue Website: www.andysjazzclub.com
Address: 11 E Hubbard St, Chicago, Il, 60611
This mainstream jazz haven runs regular, low-key residencies with some of Chicago’s most respected scene elders, Andy Brown and Mike Smith among them. Regular shows such as Charles Heath’s Early Risers Jazz Jam on Sundays and the Trumpet Summit are constants of the local jazz scene worth revisiting from time to time. It’s a comfortable, intimate space where you can drop by for a cocktail, or make an evening of it by ordering something from the restaurant’s respectable menu.
Venue Phone: 773-878-5552
Venue Website: www.greenmilljazz.com
Address: 4802 N Broadway St, Chicago, Illinois, 60640
Al Capone and other gangsters used to hang here in the 1920s, but these days it’s all about the music. Owner Dave Jemilo, who returned the club to its original luster in the 1980s, books smart bebop and free jazz with a discriminating ear. Local favorites Frank Catalano and Patricia Barber both maintain residencies throughout the year and the music often goes as late as 2am (5am on Saturdays). Arrive early, grab a cocktail and settle in for a long evening.
Venue Phone: 312-344-1270
Venue Website: www.wintersjazzclub.com
Address: 465 N McClurg Court, Chicago, Il, 60611
Just a short walk from Navy Pier, Chicago’s newest jazz club brings straight-ahead and classic jazz performers to the stage six nights a week. The 125-seat listening room is intimate and comes with a strict no-talking policy during each set-so don’t come here to chat over a saxophone solo. If you’re looking for a classy night of timeless jazz in a setting that places the focus firmly on the music, you’ve come to the right spot.