April is Jazz Appreciation Month, and what better way to celebrate jazz culture than by listening to some of the Bay Area’s best up-and-coming jazz musicians? As you may or may not know, San Francisco was home to some legendary jazz musicians, including Vince Guaraldi (the music genius who created the catchy Charlie Brown Peanuts theme), Etta James (lived in the Fillmore District), and Carlos Santana (technically a rock/Latin American fusion musician, but we’d like to argue that jazz is a pretty wide genre). It’s obvious that San Francisco brews some seriously talented artists.
Besides the popular and grand concert-style-esque venues like Yoshis and SF Jazz (an obvious given place on this list), there are plenty of spots in the City by the Bay where you can enjoy the smooth beats of true jazz without paying a ridiculous amount of money for a ticket. We’ve got a list of our favorite jazz locales to hit up the next time you’re looking for a smooth night out on the town. Oh, and keep your ears open—you might be hearing the next Miles Davis in the making.
Curtis Conn via FlickrLocal Edition
If you’re a big band kind of jazz fan, head on over to this treasured hidden gem on a Monday night. This vintage newspaper-styled sweet spot is the perfect place to get a fancy hand-crafted cocktail and bob your head to some classic brass tunes. Monday nights at Local Edition features Big Band Jazz with The Fil Lorenz Orchestra from 8 to 11 PM. The atmosphere is intimately lit with a showcase of typewriters and other newspaper-styled artifacts to set the mood, but the space is vast enough that listeners are free to roam during sets.
via Local Edition Official FacebookRevolution Cafe
A great spot to people watch, Revolution Cafe in the Mission is also a terrific place to hear some of the Bay Area’s local jazz musicians. With awesome happy hour prices to accompany your listenings, the cafe offers live music every night, ranging from classical to jazz to world music. Check out the cafe’s schedule to see their next night of jazz. We recommend arriving slightly early in the evening, as the cafe is more intimate than you think, and can get pretty cramped with both musicians and listeners sharing space!
Henry Story via FlickrBird and Beckett Books and Records
A powerhouse of culture, stop by this little bookstore the next time that you’re hanging out in Glen Park on a Friday. During the day it serves as a bookstore to the neighboring community, but at night, this little library transforms into an creative intimate space for jazz musicians, poetry readings, and artists to come together. Being surrounded by literature of all sorts is the perfect laid-back atmosphere to hearing some of the city’s up and coming talent. Friday and Saturday nights are the best nights for jazz, with their weekly “Jazz in the Bookshop” and “Jazz Club” events. Be sure to check out their schedule here!
Phliar via FlickrClub Deluxe
Reminiscent of a classic old time-y jazz house in NYC, Club Deluxe’s ambience is precisely the spot you want to go for the quintessential jazz experience. The venue’s website self proclaims themselves as the “best place for free live jazz in San Francisco!” and we definitely agree. With live music every night, it’s a great place to drown yourself in the smooth sounds of jazz. If you want to avoid accidentally walking into the club on a burlesque night, we recommend looking at their schedule beforehand.
Charles Wagner via Flickr7 Mile House
If you’re looking to grub while listening to prime music, then 7 Mile House is the place to hit up. A historical spot established back in 1853, the 7 Mile House serves up a Filipino/Italian/American Fusion mix of food with live entertainment every night. Though the cafe has lineups of reggae and R&B music for their live entertainment nights, their jazz nights are Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays. Did we mention that Sundays are also their BBQ days? And did we also mention that the venue is dog-friendly? Puppies, BBQ, and jazz—if that’s not heaven, we don’t know what is.
via 7 Mile House Sports Bar and Grill FacebookSheba Piano Lounge
A class act, Sheba Piano Lounge is the place to go for some Ethiopian food and free live jazz. Located near the historical Fillmore district, jazz culture is heavily influential in this gem of a spot. The lounge boasts live music every night with different jazz styles ranging from Latin Jazz to Classic, but it’s best to check the calendar if you’re in the mood for a specific type of jam. If you’re a musician yourself, Monday nights are designated jam sessions, in case you’re feeling inspired enough to pick up an instrument yourself and jam out.
Amy Gahren via FlickrLe Colonial
If you’re looking for an elegant night on the town, Le Colonial is the place to go. Le Colonial is a French and Vietnamese cuisine fusion that offers a different kind of ambiance than our other jazz spots on this list. With a romantic setting to match the French Colonial Vietnam background (mosaic floors, tropical plants, candle light—AKA another potential date spot), this place is as classy as classy gets. There is a dress code, which means no sweatpants and flip flops. Come to this venue on a Tuesday or Wednesday night for Latin and Gyspy Jazz, and definitely try out the food.
Steve Rhodes via FlickrThe Royal Cuckoo
A great place for a date night, this spot has some delicious cocktails to accompany your listening ears. The Royal Cuckoo, located in the Mission, is a bit on the divey side but offers some awesome jazz/blues for your ears. When they’re not playing live music, (which, by the way, their live music nights are Wednesday through Sunday—and they’ve got an awesome organ player) they’re blasting it out vintage vinyls on their lo-fi sound system. The jazz is totally free for your ears, but there’s an option to tip for the musicians (which we highly encourage). Be aware though: The Royal Cuckoo is cash only, and though the cocktails are a little steep, they’re well worth it. Check out their music calendar here.
Biscuit and Blues
Okay, okay—blues is essentially a sub-genre of jazz, so this sweet lounge is obviously making an appearance on our list of jazzy favorites. Biscuit and Blues is precisely what it sounds like: some seriously good comfort food and ridiculously fantastic live music. Biscuits and Blues is a full restaurant, bar, and nightclub, and has no food/drink minimum to enjoy their live shows (besides their Friday and Saturday early dinner-required shows). They’ve got a stellar lineup of jazz and blues acts for your preference, though weekend nights can get pretty crowded and require a hefty $20 cover fee.
Marilyn M via FlickrAmnesia
Last but not least, there’s Amnesia in the Mission. Another fun little divey bar, Wednesday nights are when you’ll want to pop by this happenin’ spot for some gyspy jazz. The regular lineup of bands often start with some bluegrass and NOLA jam sounds to warm up your night before hitting diving into their main act. For visitors coming in after 11, the space becomes an open jam session with jazz musicians pulled from all over the city. It gets a little crowded, and it’s a little loud, but that’s to be expected. Grab a drink, and embrace the eclectic atmosphere. They’ve even got some serious Lindy Hop dancing regulars who will break out moves on the dance floor—perfect for an evening of jumping jazz. Check out Amnesias calendar here.
[Featured Image: Curtis Conn via Flickr]
Article and images sourced from http://www.upout.com/blog/san-francisco-3/10-sweet-spots-to-witness-live-jazz-in-san-francisco?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=UpOutSF&utm_campaign=freepost
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