While I don’t normally plug specific District hang-outs, I will make an exception for one location: Blues Alley. A small jazz and blues club located in an 18th century red brick building at 1073 Wisconsin Ave. in a small side street about a half a block down from M, Blues Alley is one of the premier locations in D.C. to see live jazz. Founded in 1965, Blues Alley is the oldest continuing jazz supper club in the country and has featured jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Byrd, Sarah Vaughn and Maynard Ferguson, many of whom have used the space to record live albums.
Blues Alley accommodates about 125 people, and for the big shows it is often hard to find a seat, but with two shows almost every night of the year at 8 and 10 p.m., students can usually just walk down, buy a ticket and hear some great jazz. On Sunday through Thursday, the 10 o’clock shows become half-price with a valid student ID, so it can be pretty cheap to see some top-name artists.
And while you’re at Blues Alley, listening to great live music, you get the pleasure of eating fantastic food. Specializing in Creole cuisine, seafood dishes and soul food, the club offers more than just a concert; it’s an entire night of entertainment. Drinks aren’t too expensive and there are also special meal packages for big groups. I recommend the stuffed shrimp.
Still, the most notable aspect of Blues Alley is its relaxed atmosphere, which is very relaxed. Reminiscent of ‘20s jazz clubs in New York, as well as smaller venues farther south in places such as New Orleans, Blues Alley is great because even in the back row, you are literally only several feet away from the stage. Having been there several times, it seems that in a smaller venue such as Blues Alley, the musicians really play to the crowd and pick their sets based on the vibe they get from the audience. There’s a really intimate feel and the acoustics are fantastic. The interior is pretty dark, with nothing but candles on the tables and the main stage lights; the atmosphere is really relaxing on the eyes if you just want to sit back and rest while you listen.
Blues Alley features a particularly hot line-up in the next few months. The biggest shows of the fall will be the extremely popular Caribbean Jazz Project on Sept. 21 and 22, Andrew White’s Birthday Tribute for John Coltrane on Sept. 23, the incredible Maynard Ferguson on Oct. 4 through 7 and the always brilliant McCoy Tyner Trio on Oct. 16 through 21.
Caribbean Jazz Project, featuring flute player Dave Valentin, Steve Kahn on the guitar and Dave Samuels on marimba and vibes, should definitely not be missed. The group, which includes about eight members at any given time, mixes a deeply Caribbean sound with multiple instruments while incorporating classical jazz beats to create a fast-paced but relaxing sound. Each member tries to bring his own unique musical background to the band’s overall feel?Valentin’s use of Latin sounds, Samuels’ progressive rock feel and Kahn’s interest in classical jazz all combine to make the group’s sound an eclectic mix of styles. They play songs that are up-beat while mixing in some slow and soulful numbers as well.
Andrew White’s Birthday Tribute to John Coltrane is also worth checking out. White, a Washington native who puts on an annual tribute to the saxophone legend Coltrane, is an amazing tenor sax player himself, providing audiences with an energized and clear tone, stronger than Coltrane’s but equally as entertaining. White, who has published over a hundred Coltrane solos and who is an expert on Coltrane’s music, will no doubt put on an awesome performance that could only be topped by the late Coltrane himself. For fans of Coltrane, this tribute, which will certainly cover all of Coltrane’s classics, should not be missed.
Additionally, mark your calendar for Maynard Ferguson’s performances Oct. 4 through 7. Ferguson, one of the world’s greatest trumpet players and big band leaders, is sure to bring down the house when he comes to Blues Alley with his band Big Bop Nouveau. Nouveau, which finds its roots in Ferguson’s deep background in traditional jazz is, from top to bottom, one of the best big bands in the business, marked for its crisp instrumentation and overpowering be-bop sound. Ferguson, a talented brass player on his own, is particularly adept at leading a band and knows just how to front and orchestrate music at the same time. This is a must-see hit and it will be incredible to see such a powerful sound fill the small space at Blues Alley.
Finally, last but certainly not least, there is the McCoy Tyner Trio, coming to Blues Alley on Oct 16. Every year, Tyner schedules a few stops at the D.C. club to play to the smaller but always appreciative Georgetown crowd, and the result is always a spectacular show. Tyner, a pianist who played with Coltrane for a good portion of his career, is one of the most skilled musicians in his trade; his full use of the piano and innate rythmic sense make all his songs feel deeply emotional. Tyner puts on one of the best live jazz performances I have ever seen in my life. When Tyner plays, there is complete silence as the entire audience hangs on each note. Tyner’s group is extremely polished, and it’s always nice to see a really good trio on the list of upcoming shows in a fall lineup that features much bigger productions; there’s something very intimate about the smaller groups who don’t blow you away with sound but rather impress with skill.
Get out to Blues Alley.
