Blues, Jazz entertainment in Boston
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A
House of Blues
The House of Blues is back! It was a sad day when the little blue house in Harvard Square became another Irish pub. But as of 2009, there is a new HOB on Lansdowne St and it is bigger and better than ever. Never mind the ridiculously tight security measures. Open only a few weeks at the time of research, it had already seen the likes of the reunited J Geils Band, BB King, George Clinton, George Thorogood, the Gypsy Kings and the Dropkick Murphys. Standing room only; two levels. Dig the gospel brunch on Sundays. We still miss the little blue house, though.
reviewed
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B
Scullers Jazz Club
This club books huge names (Dave Brubeck, Dr John, Michael Franks) in a relatively intimate room serving stiff drinks. Many prefer to buy a package where you get a three-course dinner plus seats practically in the laps of the performers. In any case, you definitely should buy your tickets in advance. Though it enjoys impressive views over the Charles, the room itself lacks the grit you might hanker for in a jazz club. It feels like it sits inside a Doubletree Hotel (which it does).
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C
Ryles Jazz Club
Upstairs you’ll find a largish dance hall where there are often early evening instructors on hand to get you primed to swing or merengue. On the 1st level you’ll find a dining room. Both are done up with a natty jazz-inspired décor, and each has its own stage on which both local talent and national names play (Arturo Sandoval, Maynard Ferguson). A popular Sunday brunch makes a great time to visit, though you might need a reservation.
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D
Wally’s Café
Old-school, gritty and small, Wally’s is the kind of place where someone on stage will recognize a high-caliber out-of-town musician in the crowd and convince them to play. It’s been an institution since the ‘60s and is one of the most successfully racially mixed bars you’ll find in Boston. Berklee students love this place, especially the Saturday (5pm to 8pm) and Sunday (4pm to 7pm) jam sessions.
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E
Cantab Lounge
While some nights feature bluegrass or low-budget open mics, the perennial draw is Little Joe Cook & the Thrillers, a soul-inspired band with a Top 40 hit from 1957 (called ‘Peanuts’) to their legendary credit. So come eat a greasy patty burger, grab a Miller and watch Little Joe rock the house and flirt with the younger ladies in attendance (which they seem to enjoy).
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F
Regattabar
Why does Boston have such clean jazz clubs? Regattabar looks just like a conference room in a hotel – in this case the Charles Hotel. They get big enough names (Virginia Rodrigues, Keb Mo) to transcend the mediocre space. As it only has 225 seats, you’ll at least have a good view and the sound system is excellent.
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G
Beehive
The Beehive has transformed the basement of the Boston Center for the Arts into a 1920s Paris jazz club. This place is more about the scene than the music, which is often provided by Berklee students. But the food is good and the vibe is definitely hip. Reservations required if you want a table.
reviewed
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H
Berklee Performance Center
For high-energy jazz recitals, smoky-throated vocalists and oddball sets by keyboard-playing guys who look like they dabble at being dungeon masters, the performance hall at this notable music college hosts a wide variety of performers. Depending on the night, you’ll hear student recitals (ranging from awful to excellent), the Ultra Sonic Rock Orchestra, invited musicians or instructors from the college.
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