A truly great jazz club needs super sound, a stage that
everybody can see, and, of course, the charm to lure the best
musicians onto its stage. A world-class piano, an evocative
atmosphere, and fine
food and drink are the finishing touches. What
follows are our picks for the five best spots to hear the blues.
- Mark Henricks
New Orleans
Having survived the Beatles,
hip-hop, and even the devastation of Hurricane Katrina,
Preservation Hall reopened in April
2006 after a several-months-long hiatus. Today the hall
presents much of the same traditional
New Orleans jazz that
it did back in 1961. There's neither food nor
beverage, and
seating is limited, but it's only $8 per show, so you can
afford to drink and dine elsewhere in the French Quarter. 726
St. Peter Street, (504) 522-2841,
www.preservation hall.com
Minneapolis
On the ground floor of Target's headquarters,
Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant serves some of the
finest jazz cuisine in the U.S. Award-winning chef Jack Riebel's
art goes on the plate, while Dr.
John,
Branford Marsalis, and
bluesy artists like Marcia Ball fill the stage. The club seats 145,
and the adjoining restaurant behind floor-to-ceiling curtains
accommodates another 145. Restaurant patrons hear without seeing -
and without paying the $5 to $40 cover. 1010 Nicollet Mall, (612)
332-1010,
www.dakotacooks.com
Seattle