Blues, Jazz entertainment in Chicago
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A
B.L.U.E.S.
Long, narrow and high volume, this veteran blues club draws a slightly older crowd that soaks up every crackling, electrified moment. As one local musician put it, ‘The audience here comes out to understand the blues.’ Big local names like L’il Ed and the Blues Imperials grace the small stage.
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B
Kingston Mines
Popular enough to draw big names on the blues circuit, Kingston Mines is so hot and sweaty that blues neophytes will feel as though they’re having a genuine experience – sort of like a gritty theme park. Two stages, seven nights a week, ensure somebody’s always on.
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C
New Apartment Lounge
The only night to come to this storefront venue on the far South Side is Tuesday, when octogenarian saxophonist Von Freeman leads his long-running, roof-raising jam to rousing calls from the ultracasual, deep-listening audience. The session starts at 10:30pm, but if you want to get into the tiny room, come early. Brave audience members can sit in with the legend.
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D
Buddy Guy’s Legends
Top local and national blues acts wail on the stage of local icon Buddy Guy. The man himself usually plugs in his ax in January. The location is a bit rough around the edges, but the acts are consistently excellent. The restaurant serves Cajun food, and diners are treated to a free acoustic set at lunchtime (between noon and 2pm) on weekdays.
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E
Back Room
This venerated Gold Coast jazz room is so cozy that there isn’t a bad view in the house, even when you take in the stage via a long mirror. If the small main floor gets too tight, head up the spiral staircase and take things in from above. Bop purists be warned: the tunes here can get more than a little smooth. There’s a two-drink minimum.
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F
Velvet Lounge
Tenor saxophonist Fred Anderson (one of the founding members of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians) owned the Velvet and played here regularly until he passed away in 2010 at age 81. Visiting jazz musicians often hang out here late at night. The place rocks especially hard during the Sunday night jam sessions.
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G
Katerina’s
The swish Southern European finish and soulful pan-ethnic gypsy jazz and blues make Katerina’s a stylish, soulful destination in the less-traveled North Center neighborhood, just west of Lake View. A sophisticated set of 30- and 40-somethings down martinis, dig the good tunes and hang here all night.
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H
Andy’s
This comfy jazz club programs a far-ranging lineup of local traditional, swing, bop, Latin, fusion and Afro-pop acts, along with the occasional big-name performer. It has been on the scene for several years, and its downtown location makes it a popular spot for postwork boppers.
reviewed
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I
Green Dolphin Street
This classy venue combines excellent and inventive cuisine with good jazz. It’s hard to imagine that this riverside club, which looks like it’s been around since the 1940s, used to be a junk-auto dealer before its renovation.
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J
Lee’s Unleaded Blues
Far off the tourist path and buried deep on the South Side, Lee’s is a genuine juke joint with sweet blues. The local crowd dresses in their finest threads, and everyone jams until dawn. The cover is $5. You’ll need wheels to get here.
reviewed
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K
Rosa’s Lounge
Rosa’s is an unadorned, real-deal blues club that brings in top local talent and dedicated fans to a somewhat dodgy Logan Square block. The location is isolated from easy public transportation, so be sure to take a cab.
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