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Jazz Showcase
Rating Details »
Category: Jazz & Blues [Edit]
Neighborhood: South Loop806 S Plymouth Ct
Dearborn Station
(between 9th St & Polk St)
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 360-0234
- Nearest Transit:
-
Harrison (Red)
LaSalle (Blue)
Library (Orange, Brown, Purple Express, Pink)
- Hours:
Mon-Sat. 8:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sun. 4:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Thu, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
25 reviews for Jazz Showcase
I've only been once, but I love it here. One of my college professors raved about this place so I decided to give it a shot. So glad I did.
I went on a quiet night when a trio was playing. Cover was $20 and there weren't too many people attending, but the music was great. It's the perfect place to take a date. Listen to live jazz music under dim lights and over drinks, and if you're like me, steal a few kisses with your S.O. in a dark corner. Very romantic. :)
I also love that it's in a conspicuous location. To me it makes it a more authentic jazz spot. Almost like it's underground in a back alley like in the 50s.
Great place. Check out the website for upcoming performances from well-known artists!
I saw Dee Alexander here for her record release party and she was fabulous. Not only was her set so captivating, but her band was entertaining as well! Everyone on stage was so talented, and you could hear everything flawlessly.
Also, Jazz Showcase is so amazingly decorated and the atmosphere is exactly what you would want in a jazz club. The current owners/operators here are incredibly nice and chatty. The patrons are friendly as well! They have a lot of tables near the stage and a nice bar. I think the JS has a great ambience, and would be perfect for a small group of friends or for a date.
Don't miss this place!
I've got a soft spot for the venerable Green Mill, but the Jazz Showcase follows oh-so-closely behind.
The Jazz Showcase features a fantastic lineup of mainstream jazz as well as more eclectic world acts. I was impressed with the aesthetics as well as the acoustics-- the club is gorgeous! Swanky but not pretentious and candlelit like crazy. Don't try and have any side conversations, either-- the audience is here for the music, and it shows. Okay, maybe you can whisper. And don't be offended if someone gently prods you to move aside if you're blocking their view.
Cover varies (it was $10 the night I went) and I imagine drinks are on the pricier side (my friend was buying). Beautiful crowd, too. Parking behind the club will run you $5-$8 depending on what night it is.
Prime date spot right here, people!
This is the only place in Chicago to hear topflight jazz artists and the biggest names on the New York scene. The only caveats: expect New York covers (although admission for the first set usually covers you for the second, which is nice), especially on drinks. And there's no shortage of attitude from the club's owners, who do little to make the ambiance more inviting. The new location in the South Loop is a little bigger than the old one and its acoustics are just as good. And unlike the old club, there are not late-80s mirrored pillars strewn throughout the seating area, obstructing the view for much of the audience. Bottom line: your evening won't be cheap, but you will walk away knowing you've just heard the best music in the city.
Suggestion: hit up the (cheaper) Sunday matinee at 4, pop out for dinner after the first set, and come back for the 8 o'clock show. Makes for a nice afternoon.
This is a great jazz club and in my opinion, THE place for Jazz in Chicago. It's not as swanky compared to some Jazz clubs in NYC or in SF, but it's not pretentious and the music is great here. Jazz Showcase always has top notch performers. For a while I was coming here virtually weekly!
Prices vary depending on performer, but it 'susually around $20 to $25 per person plus 2 drinks minimum. They usually don't mind if you wish to stay for the second act. So if it's a performer you really like, you can usually stay for 3-4 hours (2 acts).
There are around 30-40 tables in the place, most with a decent view of the stage. There is also a large bar with bar stool seating. The place is large and a bit dated, but if you like Jazz, this is the place to go.
world class performers and consistently satisfying. this is the best jazz club in the city, i am sure of it. there is nothing pretentious about this place, which i think makes the music really approachable.
it's such a great hidden spot too. everywhere in the club is a good seat and the sound is always great.
check it out!
The current location in the historic Dearborn Station (Plymouth and Polk) is the best one I have seen since moving to Chicago in 1992.
Great room acoustically, with excellent, unobstructed sight-lines anywhere in the club.
Parking lot behind the club is only $5-8 depending on when you arrive.
Top notch local and national acts 7 nights a week. What a gem!
Doesn't get any better than this place. World-class jazz performers in a place oriented toward the music--no meals, no talking. I've seen Roy Hargrove, Wes Montgomery--and more greats than I can even remember. Owner Joe Segal is a very cranky guy (in my experience) but that's probably part of the place's charm.
Best place for Jazz in Chicago, hands down. The new space is beautiful, and the sound is FANTASTIC--there's not a bad seat in the house. They typically run the same acts TH-Sunday, and have more local bands Tues & Wed, and college nights on Mondays. (But check the website, because things change last minute.)
You can bring kids in for matinées on Sundays, and even though there's a bar you can get in if you're under 21. I think there might even be a student discount.
There's easy parking and access from either the Blue or Red Lines.
This place was great! Not quite a Green Mill, but a good, class, South Loop substitute. In fact I feel as though it's sort of a hidden secret on Plymouth, residing in the shadow of Bar Louie in Printer's Row.
I'm a fan of the small intimate environment, nothing noticeably wrong with the acoustics. I went here for a big band jazz performance and everything sounded great. I'd definitely like to come back to this place and check out more artists.
Reopened in the brand new location inside the historic Dearborn Station, the Jazz Showcase is absolutely back in full force. The lineup is incredible (as it always was) and the new layout is better than ever. The schedule is a little more accomodating, as are the cover charges. It takes some strength to say that it's better than it was at the legendary Grand Ave location, but I think I'll say it... It is.
I've said many times before and I'll say it again with conviction: If you're looking for the best jazz listening experience this fine city has to offer, the Jazz Showcase is unequivocally IT.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
3/13/2007
Hands-down best jazz in Chicago. I've seen more jazz legends here - guys dating back to the 60's -… Read more »
Lost their lease -- and they are looking for a new home. They have been at this location (on Grand near Clark) for 10 years, in Chicago for 50 years and have been around since 1947.
Joe Siegel, the club's founder, is looking for another place to set up a band stand. In his quest for a new home, Siegel is getting considerable support from Jazz musicians who are performing for free on Mondays to help him out. The last performance will be on New Year's Eve. This location will close as of 01.01.07 -- and relocating to... Anybody have any great ideas or know someone who knows someone???
This is a great venue, an institution that should not miss a beat in finding a new home.
I had an awesome time here a few months ago. This place is for real jazz afficianados. The people here are into the performance - very attentive audience - and the music is fantastic (I saw the Dave Holland Quintet).
Coming from a musician who has always hated jazz, it means a lot when I say that seeing live jazz at Jazz Showcase was a terrific experience. I will definitely be back for more.
Great venue, great decour, great MUSIC! Their (not so new anymore) room at Dearborn station is a nice cozy spot, and the decorations in there are great! They program a great mix of local acts and big names, so it's a good way to check out some new bands. In keeping with tradition, they lean toward straight-ahead / bop acts, so it's a great place to take someone whos not familiar with jazz - they won't be overwhelmed. (except by the virtuosity of the musicians, of course) The early shows on Sundays are nice too. Glad to see the return of this Chicago Institution!
I'm definitely a fan of jazz and now a fan of Jazz Showcase. I went on Sunday to see Lou Donaldson. Wow!! Loved it. Can't say I'm a fan of the bartender or his drinks. Maybe because it was a Sunday Matinee (family day) the drinks were real lite. Well, I'm single, never married, no kids and when I want a drink, I want a drink! You know, I wanna know the liquor's in there. So, go for the music, be wary of the drinks. Maybe they're stronger on late night shows. I'll be returning soon despite the bar. Maybe I can sneak in a little mini bottle and spike my drink.
Awesome place for live jazz. I'd suggest taking public transportation so you don't have to pay an outlandish amount for parking. With my budget, a night at the Jazz Showcase is definitely a special occasion, meaning it is usually pricier than other clubs. There is nothing wrong with that though because they usually bill more popular musicians.
Any jazz fan that finds himself/herself in Chicago is really doing a disservice to miss visiting the Jazz Showcase. This is a jazz fan's perfect destination. All the tables are close, the acts range from top-notch to stratospheric, and the entire establishment exists FOR THE MUSIC. You want chit-chat? Go someplace else. Just let the music take you out of your head.
This is THE place to go for mainstream jazz in Chicago. Joe Siegel has been the benevolent empresario at the Showcase since way before most of you readers were born. All the big name real jazz players come here to play when they come to Chicago. The thing that makes this place exceptional in addition to the always great jazz is that it is smoke free. I love it. A great Chicago institution, don't miss it.
Joe Siegel is an ass and the service sucks. Having said that, this is the best place to actually LISTEN to top name jazz in the city. I saw Dave Holland with Chris Potter here recently and it was incredible. I didn't know people could make sounds like that out of a saxophone! It's about $20-25 cover to get in this place on the average night. Well worth it for the big name artists.
I just saw Mose Allison play at this dark, big, non-smoking, jazzy, candlelit club. It was perfect. The drinks are quite expensive, as you'd expect, but I loved it. There was even a drunk "jazz slut" that barfed upstairs on the carpet after loudly hitting on this gay guy who was clearly with his boyfriend. I'd TOTALLY go again.
While the sign boasts "Where jazz lives in Chicago since 1947," it's actually changed location over a dozen times since then. It's supposedly Chicago's second oldest jazz club (Green Mill opened in 1914). I can't imagine all the jazz greats that came to Chicago between those years only had one place to play, but whatever. Owner Joe Segel has done a great job keeping the current location an ideal place to truly *HEAR* jazz, rather than a place where loud tourists ogle over mafia hangouts. The no smoking and talking during performance policy is key. Charlie Parker and John Coltrane have played here, and the current performers are no slouches, including semi-regular McCoy Tyner, who played in Coltrane's classic quartet.
Thank God the Jazz Showcase is back! Last night I spent a wonderful evening there, enjoying the stunning musicianship of pianist Benny Green and his talented sidemen. What a great show! The new space is truly intimate, and its a wonder that we are able to have such an up-close experience with these fabulous musicians who are often headlining major jazz festivals! The service was great and friendly, and its always great to see the friendly face of Joe Segal. Highly recommended!
closed again, after a New Year's Eve blowout. According to WBEZ, the Siegels will have a series of fundraisers in order to raise cash for a new location. Rent was at $100,000 (per year, I think) and they just couldn't afford it anymore.
This place exudes class. If I could afford to go every night, I would.
I went here back a few weeks ago and saw James Carter. Absolutely fantastic! Great intimate room--no smoking, good acoustics, cool people. I got a table with my date right up front--I was about two feet away from the mic stand. The drinks were priced right and the staff was upbeat and friendly. The only thing that struck me as strange was the fact that they made you wait in the lobby an hour before the showtime. I just figured that they would want to capitalize on money to be made at the bar as soon as possible, but oh well... I met my date there and was ready to talk with her over a few drinks, but ended up talking on a bench in the lobby--a few martinis would have broken the ice better. This is cab country here, it will run you less than the parking in this neighborhood. Great place to chill over some good music, but like most clubs that are serious about their performers, coversation is somewhat discouraged although they won't flat out shoosh you like at the GreenMill--just treat the place like you were at the movies. It will probably be quiet enough just to lean in to talk to someone's ear--while you're whispering, give them a kiss too!
