Blues, Jazz entertainment in California
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A
Soho
This unpretentious brick room located upstairs behind a McDonald's has live bands nightly, from indie rock, funk and folk to jazz and blues.
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Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse
Smart programming explores the regional styles of traditional, acoustic world music. Think fiddle, folk, strings and soul. No alcohol.
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Yoshi's
Yoshi's is one of the country's major jazz clubs; pretty-good sushi too.
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Bruno's
The stage spilleth over at this little joint with a big sound: 20 brass-wielding masters often cram in for Jazz Mafia Tuesdays. Multiple chambers include the narrow, padded-wall Cork Club with a Hammond organ for weekend funk nights, and a swanky piano lounge, where students and well-dressed jazz aficionados arrive early for the Tuesday night around US$8 beer-burger-fries special.
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Biscuits & Blues
With a steady lineup of top-notch blues and jazz talent, Biscuits & Blues has rightly earned a reputation as one of America’s best blues clubs. And the name isn’t a gimmick – the joint serves hot biscuits, catfish and chicken for the full Southern experience. Acts sometimes perform Tuesdays; big names fetch up to $35.
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Amnesia
Amnesia’s swinging scene is reminiscent of the jazz era, but in ragtag-hipster style. Red-hot jazz plays half the time in the dim, red-walled dive, attracting a boho crowd looking the part. Other nights run the gamut from bluegrass and burlesque to Argentinean gypsy guitar and psychedelic rock (the latter every Thursday).
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Pier 23
It looks like a surf shack, but this old waterfront restaurant on Pier 23 regularly features R&B, reggae, Latin bands, mellow rock and the occasional jazz pianist. Wander out to the bayside patio to soak in views. The dinner menu features pier-worthy options like batter-fried oysters and whole-roasted crab.
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Rasella’s
Doubling as an Ethiopian restaurant, Rasella’s big storefront windows let you look inside to see (and hear) who’s playing before you commit. Live jazz seven nights a week (and occasionally salsa on Fridays) make this our favorite Upper Fillmore backup when we’re wishy-washy about where to go.
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Baked Potato
Near Universal Studios a dancing spud beckons you to come inside this diminutive jazz and blues hall where the schedule mixes no-namers with big-timers, including Mike Landon and Kevin Eubanks from the Tonight Show. Drinks are stiff but baked potatoes are optional.
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Elbo Room
The Elbo Room draws a diverse indie crowd and showcases diverse acts in its upstairs black-box performance space, including rockabilly, salsa and reggae, with emphasis on funk and soul. Come any night for the (free) chill downstairs bar. There are $2 pints from 5pm to 9pm.
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Lou’s Pier 47
Though we generally avoid the touristy Wharf in the evening, we’re glad for stalwart Lou’s, which presents live blues seven nights a week and on Saturday afternoon (when there’s no cover). Good backup if you’re staying nearby and don’t want to travel.
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Agenda
Agenda is a bar and restaurant that also serves up live jazz and cocktail music upstairs and house music in the cellar. A happy-hour cocktail in the lovely upstairs bar makes a pleasant start to the evening.
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Shanghai Bar
In Old Town, the Shanghai Bar has been in operation since 1912, right through the Depression and Prohibition. It's a worthy place that wears its past like a fine patina and there's much to ponder.
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House of Blues
Despite a Disneyfied ‘Mississippi blues shack’ exterior, this center-of-the-strip music hall books quality, sometimes quirky, small-venue bands from all over the US and abroad.
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Hedley Club
Also downtown, inside the elegant 1931 Hotel De Anza, Hedley Club is a good place for a quiet drink in art deco surroundings. Jazz combos play Friday and Saturday night.
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Boom Boom Room
John Lee Hooker owns this vintage '30s blues and jazz club, which hops six nights a week. Advance tickets are necessary for major acts, but not usually.
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Babe's & Ricky's
This legendary blues joint is great any time, but Mondays are cult: $8 buys Mama Laura's late-night soul food buffet.
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Red White + Bluezz
Wine bar and restaurant that brings in the best area talents on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
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Moxie's
This smart-looking coffeehouse has jazz, acoustic and other low-key sounds several nights a week.
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BB King's Blues Club
Local and touring acts come to tourist-saturated Universal City Walk.
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Jazz at Pearl's
A stylish supper club with a friendly, sophisticated vibe, Pearl's features modern jazz talent and has expanded its repertoire to blues and Latin music. It draws a well-heeled, mature crowd with its high-quality vocalists and instrumentalists. Sultry diva Kim Nalley, who owns Pearl's with her husband, is a throwback to the glamorous jazz era, and on some Mondays and Tuesdays, she'll grace audiences with an appearance.
At cocktail tables, a two-drink minimum is in effect - best to make a night of it.
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Kimball's East
In Emeryville, northwest of Oakland, this huge jazz supper club books big-name musicians and the occasional comedy act. The club's in the Emerybay Public Market; from I-80 take the Powell St exit.
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