Jazz in DC
You might not think of our Nation’s Capital as a place for jazz, but DC has some rich jazz history. There are a couple top places for hearing live jazz that have been around for years.
Blues Alley
Located in an alley in historic Georgetown, just a block from Wisconsin Ave. and M Street, Blues Alley has been a music mainstay in DC since 1965. It bills itself as the oldest continuing jazz supper club in the country.
They offer a full dinner menu with all their dishes named for famous performers that have played the club, such as Maynard Ferguson’s Shrimp and Pepper Pasta or Dizzy Gillespie’s Shrimp Creole (all in the $20.00 range). They also serve sandwiches in $8.00 - $10.00 range.
Tickets are generally $20-$30 per person and can be purchased online or at the club, but popular performances, especially on weekends, may be sold out. They have a $10 minimum per person (cocktails and food) and a $2.50 surcharge per person. Seating is first come and most nights there are two performances — 8:00pm and 10:00pm.
Upcoming featured artists include:
David Sanborn - November 16-18
Kim Waters – December 1-3
David Benoit – February 22-24
Stanley Jordan - March 8-11
Stanley Clark - March 15-18
Parking in the area can be tough, but there are many garages close by in Georgetown, including across the street from Blues Alley at The Shops at Georgetown Park. The fee for parking for over 4 hours is $12.00.
Blues Alley
1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20007
Phone: 202-337-4141
Hours: 6:00 p.m. until about 12:30.a.m. nightly
Credit cards: Accepted
Bohemian Caverns
Located in the U Street area, has hosted some of jazz greatest artists since the 1920s - from Billie Holliday and Sarah Vaughn to Wynton Marsalis and Mile Davis. Today it’s one of DC’s classic spots to hear local and upcoming jazz performers.
They also offer a full dinner in the restaurant with all the dishes similarly named for famous performers – entrees in the $10-$18 range. You can have cocktails in The Cavern, a lounge area that feels subterranean.
Tickets prices vary depending on the act, generally around $10 per person, but check in advance as some nights are reggae or other styles.
Valet parking is available and garage parking is available and advisable at garages on 12th NW & U St. as well as in the 1400 block of U St. garage. Parking rates vary by day and time.
Bohemian Caverns
2001 Eleventh Street N.W., Washington DC, 20001 (11th & U Street NW).
Phone: 202-299-0801
Tickets: Can be purchased online.
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[...] As a student in Europe studying languages and comparative literature her life changed when she met a fellow student and saxophonist (now husband) at a chance meeting in Oxford, England. After developing her skills on the London jazz scene, she landed a record contact and the rest is history. Stacey will be performing six shows at Blues Alley in Georgetown (see my previous post on Jazz in DC). [...]