bugler16

Unfortunately gooing to school in KY there is not an abundant amount of "Jazz" around. But the last Monday of every mont the Vince Dimartino, Miles Osland Jazz Orchestra play at Comedy Off Broadway in Lexington about an hour from my school. They are great not to mention 3 of my profs play with them. Second Trombone, 1st Tenor, and of course my favorite my Trumpet prof.

My prof used to play lead with Buddy Rich Big Band and in Vegas, in fact at the end of Feb he's going to Vegas to play with Pavarotti. To hear him and Vince at the same time is an experience not to be missed. Plus having the Band around every so often gives a chance for some great players to come visit. I'll never forget seeing Vince and Allen Vizzuti soloing together on Cherokee.

Tootsall

"soloing together"? Umm.. is that one of those oxymorons? Or just a frat stunt? HEHE. (just tugging on your cape...pay me no attention).

Graham Altham-Lewis

I think Ronnie Scotts in London UK is one of the best I have been to. Great intimate jazz atmosphere - great musicians. Can't beat it! The only other place I have been that reliably has good jazz on is top O the Senator in Toronto, Canada.

Having said that sometimes you just hit a great place for one night by chance...but go back another and its no good!

I would love to hear Nicholas Payton live - anyone out there heard him live and knows where he plays?

bnbtrpt

Smalls in NYC used to be the best place. Cheap too! I think it is closed down now. What a shame. It was something like five bucks to get in AND you could bring your own booze inside.

jd

FlugelFlyer

It's not the greatest joint in the world, but the best kept secret in the greater Chicago area perhaps is Hackney's at S. 123rd & Rte. 45. Every Wednesday night is the Brass Tracks big band lead by Tom Fox, an incredible lead player, and a group of mostly music educators who are extremely talented when put together. Guys like Mike Vax and Roger Ingram have played with them among countless other great Chicagoland musicians. Guy Fricano sticks out in my mind because I saw him there. Also, I play with two of the trumpeters in the band, and though I don't play with the group I try to catch them every once in awhile. They play pretty loud for a small joint, but it's worth seeing if you're willing to make the trip.

fatpauly

My offering is in the past tense - Where WAS the best place, because I hear it is long gone...The Village Lounge at Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

Favorite memory there...pulling a sofa up to about 10 feet in front of Milt Jackson's final set of the night because we were the only people in the club by then. Forty minutes of Milt and the house band playing just for me and my friend...heaven.

Anyone else ever visited the Village Lounge?

- Paul Artola
Ellicott City, Maryland

jazz_trpt

Mine also now sadly gone...

Nature's Table, Urbana, Illinois.

Lazorphaze

the only place I've ever listened to jazz is at concert halls. And Brilliant Corners, a coffee-shop/jazz-hole in St. Paul that I can't go to...grr...takes 30 minutes to get there.

Ash

In my area (Frisco Bay Area), Yoshi's is the place to go for big name cats, I also have my personal favorites, places no one's ever heard of (Mingles comes mind).

TangneyK

Club Unterfahrt (sp?) in Munich is great. Saw/heard Kenny Wheeler with John Abercrombie (gt) and Marc Copeland (pno) there. AWESOME!!!

There's also a GREAT (I used all "Caps" so it must be good!) jazz club in the small border town of Cheb in the Czech Republik. Not many Americans play there, but last weekend I saw a bad-@$$ jazz fusion trio there. THe guitar player's chops were incredible. REALLY tight band. Oh yeah, and it's the Czech Republik, so beautiful women are the norm.

--Kevin