Boston, MA, hub of New England, has a thriving and well-known music scene with small and large venues catering to every type of the taste from the symphony fan looking for a world class concert to the college freshman at any of Boston’s ten billion places of higher learning looking for the most loud, obnoxious, obscure anarchist band he can find. Irish pubs. Reggae. Latin. Boston is a diverse city in every way, including its musical offerings.
While it doesn’t quite have the reputation of, say, New York, Chicago, or New Orleans, Boston does have serious jazz and plenty of places where fans of the genre can catch live shows.
Maybe the most famous jazz venue in Boston is Scullers, a club established in the 80s. Located at 400 Soldier’s Field Rd (in the Doubletree), Scullers is a 200 seat venue with a reputation in the city for excellent jazz and romantic ambience. Artists who have appeared at Scullers are in some cases known even to those who don’t follow jazz (Harry Connick, Jr) as well as big jazz, latin jazz and blues names and legends along with younger artists. Dinner and overnight accommodations packages are available.
The Regatta Bar is also a well-known and respected live music venue in Boston (well, technically it’s in Cambridge, at the Charles Hotel, 1 Bennett St,617-395-7757). Acts appearing at this 225 seat venue include jazz ensembles like Roomful of Blues, soloists and singers as well as genre-bending vocalists like Judy Collins. The Regatta Bar can be rented for private events. There’s an annual jazzfest of longstanding. The club was opened back in 1985.
Wally’s Café Jazz Club (427 Mass Ave, )in Boston also provides patrons with live jazz. A family owned joint established in 1947, Wally’s offers music from up-and-coming acts. The schedule offers some theme nights: Monday’s blues, Tuesday’s swing. Latin, “straight ahead” and Be-Bop jazz, include music performed by “Wally’s Step Children” are also regularly showcased at the club. Sunday offers a sit-in jam session.
Fans may also want to check out Chef Bob’s Southern Bistro (604 Columbus Ave, 617-536-6204) a restaurant which features (obviously) southern-flare cooking and which offers live jazz music Thursday-Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons. Acts playing at Chef Bob’s prominent local players, according to the website.
Also kind of cheating and going over the Cambridge line is Ryles (212 Hampshire St. Cambridge; 617-876-9330). The two-floored venue hosts both live music on the main floor and dancing on the second “dance hall” floor. Jazz artists performing at Ryles are both nationally established and local musicians. There’s a house jazz orchestra, The Ryles Jazz Orchestra, which plays with “nationally known” artists once a month or performs on its own, according to the website. Opened in 1994, the venue offers jazz of all kinds from Latin to smooth. There’s a Sunday Jazz Brunch. Artists who have played at the venue include Maynard Ferguson and Jon Faddis, according to the website. (www.rylesjazz.com)
The Berklee School of Music, besides teaching new musicians, showcases established ones with several live venues within it’s urban campus.
