Five years ago, I posted “Boston Jazz Venues Come and Gone,” a look back at the dearly departed. Steve Provizer compiled the first version of that list, at the time when we learned Ryles Jazz Club was closing. Then I compiled a list, and we combined them, and ended up with about 200 entries. You can still find that list over at his blog, Brilliant Corners.
Now five years on and with more info in the database, I’m taking another crack at it, but with a twist. While the 2018 list included everything, this 2023 iteration covers only the years 1960 to 1990—more or less the years of The Boston Jazz Chronicles Part 2. This list goes beyond clubs and concert halls to include alternative venues like churches and galleries. However, I omitted most parks, playgrounds, and public spaces that were used by events like Summerthing or Boston Jazz Week. Too much work!
If anyone out there decides to compile an A-to-Z (Acton Jazz Cafe to Zeitgeist) list of Boston jazz venues covering the next 30 years, I’ll be happy to post it.
This is the most current information I have, but it is by no means complete, and I’m sure there are errors, too. My research cutoff is August 1988, when the 1369 Jazz Club closed, so some of the dates after that are best guesses. “No warranty expressed or implied.” Please leave a comment if you have a site to add, or if you spot something that needs fixing.
West End/North Station
Boston Visual Artists Union, late 1970s
Debbie’s, 1973-1974
Old West Church, early 1970s
Scotch ‘n Sirloin, 1973-1984
Stone Soup Gallery, mid 1970s
Faneuil Hall Marketplace to Summer St
Bay Tower Room, 1984-1992, maybe to 1998
Bette’s Rolls Royce, 1973-1980
Cafe Fleuri at Le Meridien Hotel, late 1980s
Chez Freddie, 1960-1967
Executive Suite, mid-1960s
Flower Garden, 1980s
Lily’s Cafe, 1983-1990
Limericks, 1988
Gallagher, 1977-1983
Gaslight aka XXI Gaslight, 1966-1967
Last Hurrah, Parker House Hotel, 1976 into the 1990s
Palm Court at Crickets, 1985-early 1990s
Sir Harry’s Lounge, 1980-1981
Studio Red Top Loft, 1978-1980
Downtown Crossing/Summer St to Kneeland St
The Channel, limited jazz dates in the 1980s
Friends of Great Black Music Jazz Loft, late 1970s
Gilded Cage, 1958-1965
Modern Theater, 1978-1980
Opera House (Savoy Theater), 1981-1991
Palace Bar, 1955-1965, then the Downtown Lounge to ~1970
Theatre District/Park Square
1-2-3 Lounge, 1953 to late 1960s
Backstreet, 1981
Bradford Hotel Grand Ballroom, concerts 1960s-1980s
Caribe Lounge, 1957 to ~1963, later a strip joint
The Cave, 1964-1966
Four Corners/Attic Lounge, mid/late 1960s
Number 3 Lounge, mid 1960s
The Other Side, late 1960s one night a week; later a gay bar
Park Plaza Hotel, mid 1980s big band dates
Playboy Club of Boston, 1965-1977
Playhouse Lounge & Cabaret, Charles Playhouse, mid 1970
Saxony Lounge, 1952-1965
Stuart Manor, mid-1950s to mid-1960s
Storyville (Ralph Snider’s), Hotel Bradford, 1960-1961
Tic Toc Lounge (third location), 1958-1964
Vagabond Cocktail Lounge, 1960s
Varty’s Jazz Room, Hotel Bradford, 1966
South End/Lower Roxbury
Sam Rivers at the Shanty Lounge, Nov 1962. Saxe?
4-11 Lounge, late 1940s-1968
Basin Street South, 1961-1967 (Trinidad Lounge before that)
The Big M, 1956-1966 (the Savoy before that, 1943-1955)
Black Avant Garde Coffeehouse, 1970-1971
Estelle’s, 1964-1972
Handy Cafe, 1940s-1960s
Louie’s Lounge, 1948-1972; not much jazz in the 60s, but employed many jazz musicians
Lulu White’s, 1978-1981
Premier After Dark, 1986
Professional and Business Men’s Club, 1958-1964
Pioneer Club, late 1940s-1974; after hours
Shanty Lounge, 1961-1967
Slade’s (Bill Russell’s Slades), 1966
Tinkers, 1980-1982, occasionally to 1985
Union Methodist Church, 1966
Villa Victoria Center for the Arts, 1986-2017; concerts of all kinds
Wally’s Cafe, 1947-present
Wigwam, late 1950s-early 1960s? (Eddie Levine’s before that, 1947-1958)
Roxbury/Dorchester/Jamaica Plain
Connolly’s (aka Stardust Room), 1957-1967; 1991-1998
Desert Lounge, early 1960s
Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts, 1973-1980
Flame Room, 1965-1966
Jamaica Plain Arts Center (aka Firehouse Arts Center), late 1980s
Pink Squirrel, Uphams Corner, 1971
Playhouse in the Park, Franklin Park, 1966-1973, summers
Savoy on the Hill, late 1950s-early 1960s
Strand Theater, occasional jazz dates from its 1979 reopening
Back Bay
Luiz Henrique at the My Apartment Lounge, Sept 1968
Back Bay Theatre (Donnelly Memorial Theatre), 1959-1968
Berklee Performance Center, 1976-present
Church of the Covenant, 1973-1979
Copley’s Bar, Copley Plaza Hotel, 1973-1988
Darbury Room, 1948-1963; later The Point After
Emmanuel Church, 1969-1992; Jazz Celebrations series
Hatch Shell, Charles River Esplanade, 1960s-1990s
Hotel Eliot Lounge, 1948-1973, one-nighters to late ’70s
Hynes Auditorium, 900 Boylston St, 1966-1970 site of Boston Globe Jazz Festival
Inst of Contemporary Art, late 1980s and later
Jazz Workshop, 1963-1978
Jason’s, 1979-1982; Friday Jazz at Noon sessions
John Hancock Hall, jazz concerts 1949-1981
Lindy’s, early 1960s
Merry-Go-Round, Copley Plaza Hotel, 1970-1977
Montana’s, 1982-1987
Moulin Rouge, Hotel Vendome, 1952-1964
My Apartment Lounge, Hotel Vendome, 1965-1969
New England Life Hall, concerts 1945-1985
Paul’s Mall, 1964-1978
Plaza Bar, Copley Plaza Hotel, 1977-1996; later the Oak Room
Ritz Carlton Bar, 1980s
Satch’s Restaurant, 1979-1983
Satin Doll, Back Bay Hilton, 1983-1984
Sherry Lounge, Sherry Biltmore Hotel, 1955-1966
The Stable, 1953-1962
Studio Red Top Theater, 1980-1981
Top of the Hub, Prudential Center, 1965-2015
Turner Fisheries, Westin Hotel, 1984-1992
Zachary’s, Colonnade Hotel, 1973-1992
Fenway/Huntington Ave
Club Symphony, 1979-1980
Danceworks, 1983-1984
Danny’s Cafe, late 1950s-1964
Jordan Hall, New England Conservatory, jazz concerts from 1947. Jazz concerts in Brown Hall from 1940.
Marie’s Keyboard, early 1960s
Michael’s Jazz Club, 1975-1981
Museum of Fine Art, concerts from mid 1980s
Northeastern University, Alumni Auditorium etc, concerts from mid 1970s
Studio 203, 1976-1984
Symphony Hall, concerts beginning with Paul Whiteman in 1925
Kenmore Square
Cafe Yana, 1960-1964
Kix, 1978, 1981
Pooh’s Pub, 1975-1981
Rogue’s Lounge, Fenway Commonwealth Motor Hotel, 1968-1973
Safti’s New Orleans North, 1986-1989
Storyville (Ed Shamsi), Hotel Buckminster, 1981-82 and longer as a rock club; George Wein’s Storyville here 1951-1953.
Sonny Stanton’s Talk of the Town, 1971-1972
Starlight Roof, Howard Johnson’s Motor Lodge, 1983-1986
Thru the Looking Glass, 1964-1965
Allston/Brookline
Domino Lounge, Allston, 1961-1964
The Barn, Brookline, 1960-1964
Kismet Lounge, Hamilton House Hotel, Allston, 1965-1972
The One Gentleman and the Bolay Lounge, Allston, 1963-1964
Papillon Gourmet Cafe, Brookline, 1975-1985
The Paradise, Allston, occasional jazz dates 1977-1986
Starlight Lounge, Allston, 1960-1967
Scullers Jazz Club, Allston, 1989-present
Walter’s, Brookline, 1980-1989
Cambridge/Somerville
Claudio Roditi at the 1369, June 1986
1369 Jazz Club, 1976-1981; 1983-1988, also Springfields
Atrium Cafe, 1981-1985
Back Room at the Idler, 1975-1982; mainly folk, some acoustic jazz
Cambridge Community Performances aka Cambridge Custom Percussion, 1978-1982
Cambridge Public Library, 1982-1993 Sound of Jazz series
Cantares, late 1980s, Latin music and some jazz
Casablanca (Club Casablanca), early 1980s
Charlie’s Tap, 1984-1986, probably longer
Club 47, 1958-1968
Empire Room, 1970-72; later the Faces Disco
First Church Congregational, 1967-1992
Harvard-Epworth United Methodist Church, 1969-1972
Harvard University Sanders Theater
Hasty Pudding Theater, 1980-1983
Jake’s, 1976-1977
Joe’s Place, early 1970s
Jonathan Swift’s, 1977-1986
Joy of Movement Center, 1975-1985; mainly folk, some jazz
M.I.T. Kresge Auditorium, concerts from the 1950s
Lai Lai Restaurant, 1990
Middle East, 1988 into the 1990s
Nightstage, 1985 into the 1990s
Old Cambridge Baptist Church, 1983-1988
Oxford Ale House, 1974-1977
Pallysadoe Lounge, Hyatt Regency Hotel, 1977-1988
Performance Center, 1974-1975
Regattabar and Charles Ballroom, Charles Hotel, 1985–2020
Rise Club, 1977-1978
Royal Sonesta Hotel Lounge, 1985-1989
Ryles Jazz Club, 1976-2018
Speakeasy, 1976-1980
Springfield’s Jazz Club, 1981-1983, same location as 1369
Sunflower Cafe, 1978-1980
Tufts University Cohen Auditorium etc, very active 1980s
Turtle Cafe, 1983-1985
Western Front, 1970-1982; later mostly reggae
Willow Jazz Club, 1981-1997
Zircon, 1973-1975
East Boston
Brinkley’s Pub, Ramada Inn Logan Airport, 1978-1985
Hilton Lounge, Hilton Hotel at Logan Airport, 1982-1989, maybe longer
PJ Lounge at Lombardino’s, 1971-1980
Offshore
Water Music’s JazzBoat, 1971-1988, maybe longer
More Jazz Inside I-495
My jazz map outside of Boston and Cambridge is spotty. The music was out there, although you needed a car to get to it. Here is a short list of venues located between Boston and I-495 active in the 60s-70s-80s.
North of Boston
Buddy’s Cafe, Revere, 1980-1990
Ebb Tide, Revere, 1960-1964; later the Beach Ball
Castle Hill, Ipswich, 1955-1988
Club Caravan, Revere ??
Fire Barn, Chelsea, late 1970s
Holiday Inn, Peabody; big-band dates 1971-1985
Lakeside, Topsfield, 1971-1974
Lennie’s-on-the-Turnpike, West Peabody, 1962-1972
Marblehead Unitarian-Universalist Church, summer jazz series 1985-2014
Romie’s Quarterdeck, Danvers, 1975-1988
Sandy Berman’s Jazz Revival, Beverly, 1973-1983
Stage Door Lounge, Lynn, early 1960s
The Surf, Revere, 1962-1966; later rock, then nude dancing
Town Line Lounge, Malden, early 1960s
Village Green, Danvers, 1965-1971
Wagon Wheels, West Peabody, big bands 1963-1964
West of Boston
Brandeis University, Waltham, mid 1950s onward
Chestnut Hill Mall, Rt 9 Newton, 1982-1995 and maybe later
Colonial Inn, Concord, 1980s-2020
Cottage Crest, Waltham, 1963-1970
DeCordova Museum, Lincoln; summer series from mid 1980s to mid 1990s
Duca’s, Rt 9 Framingham, 1980-1984
Ephriam’s, Sudbury, 1980-1989
Matrix, Natick, 1986-1987
Paris 26/Rick’s Cafe, Newtonville, 1985-1990
Piety Corner Gardens, Waltham, 1962-1972
Sticky Wicket, Hopkinton, 1971-1990
Stouffer’s Bedford Glen Hotel, Bedford, 1982-1986 maybe longer
South of Boston
Amaru’s, Dedham, 1972-1975
Beachcomber, Wollaston Beach Quincy, jazz one-nighters 1964-1973
Curry College, Milton, 1986-1993 Boston Jazz Society Annual Barbecue
Joseph’s, Braintree, 1963-1964
Great Woods Performance Center, Mansfield, mid/late 1980s, Great Woods Jazz & Blues Festival
Milton High School, South Shore Jazz Concert, 1959-1971
Moseley’s-on-the-Charles, Dedham; no jazz since the late 70s, but a shout out to a ballroom that kept dancing for 117 years, 1905-2022.
Showboat, Nantasket Beach, 1966
Westgate Lounge, Brockton, 1964-1968
If you are including Dixieland Jazz in this, Casey’s 318 Broadway Winter Hill Somerville had Dixieland in the early 60’s til it became Pal Joeys Lounge.
Thanks, Larry. Never knew about Casey’s. It was also called the 318 Lounge in the pre-Joey’s days. As for trad, there’s always room for one more alongside Bette’s, Ephraim’s, the Sticky Wicket, Safti’s…
Think I have another for you: Christy’s in Boston. Listening to a Charlie Parker album called “The Happy Bird”, and the liner notes on the back say it was recorded in Christy’, an after hours club in Boston, in 1951. Can’t seem to find any history online about “Christy’s”. The album is on Parker Records, Id# PLP-404S.
Bill, you’re right, you found another one, but it is “out of scope.” This post is for venues 1960-90, and Christy’s operated for only a few years in the early 1950s. So if I ever do a post for venues from the forties and fifties, Christy’s will be in there. You’re also right in saying there isn’t much info available online. My own post on it is only about this Charlie Parker session — https://richardvacca.com/on-april-12-1951/
Thanks very much, Richard! The postcard of Christy’s is a great bit of knowledge as well. I’ll see if can print it out and keep it with the album. Found the album at the Duke University Record Fair last weekend and enjoyed Bird’s playing very much. I’ll keep my eyes open for more Boston locales. Thanks again for the extensive info you shared. Regards,
How about The Charlie Harris Trio @ The Yard Arm in the No End and a place in the Financial District.
Name escapes. Cool trio with a great pianist and a bass player. Harris had a lot of Charisma a great vocal early to mid 70’s.
Perhaps this is too far west of Boston to list, but the El Morocco in Worcester, MA presented a great number of jazz artists. A live recording of the Basie Band was recorded there in February 1992 and released on the Telarc label.
I made I-495 the boundary for this list, but the El Morocco was certainly more of a jazz club than many included here. Thanks for bringing it up. Herb Pomeroy also recorded at El Morocco, “Pramlatta’s Hips,” released on Shiah Records in 1980.
The Glass Hat Lounge was above Mama Catina’s Restaurant at 160 London Street, overlooking the Callahan and Sumner tunnel exit/entrance. The most frequent attraction was Charlie Harris with Monsignor at the piano. Never did learn his real name. On the piano sat a glass top hat in which patrons placed contributions to the band. The walls were of glass, allowing for great views of the Friday and Saturday night traffic jams heading to and from the tunnels. The venue didn’t last too long, destroyed by a fire caused by an overnight surge in the East Boston main gas line.
There was also the Cafe Italia on Bennington Street near Central Square, and the Logan Hilton, that featured the Al Vega Trio plus guests (who, over the years, included Shawnn Monteiro, Teddy Casher, Dick Johnson, Steve Marvin, and other usual suspects.)
Another precinct heard from–thanks for the East Boston info!
I also remember doing jazz gigs at local radio stations: WGBH-FM, WBUR-FM, Brandeis Radio, Tufts radio. TV Channel 5 (1963).
Now I’m curious. Were these gigs that were open to the public, live-in-the-studio performances? Or were they only intended for broadcast? I know WGBH has been doing public performances in their studio for quite a while, but I don’t know how far back it goes.
All were without live audiences, and live in the studio meant for immediate broadcast. The Channel Five gig was with Eddie Sears on piano. me on bass, and Fred Lipsius on saxophone, again no live audience. His pre-Blood, Sweat, Tears days.
Gilda’s Stone Rooster, Marion, MA 1979-2020
That’s so close to I-495, I’ll add it to the list. Given the closing date, I’m guessing it didn’t reopen after covid. Do you know the story?
https://sippican.theweektoday.com/article/gilda-downey-leaves-behind-legacy-music-self-expression/62277
https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/news/2015/09/09/no-slowing-down-legendary-gilda/33564341007/
https://fb.watch/keFMCaN86Y/
https://youtu.be/2hcKXbWNMSI
Such a great list. A big thanks to all who helped build it.
You might want to add Mobius Artists Group. And for any interested in the Greater Boston jazz, music, and art scene you might want to check https://archive.org/details/pub_boston-phoenix It’s free. Also I played many movie theaters. The Orson Wells and Somerville theaters for Jack Kerouac birthday celebrations. Coolidge Corner Theater occasionally would have jazz related music. Quincy House at Harvard had jazz festivals early on, and people like Lowell Davidson would play in their Common Room.
There was a restaurant called The Winery on Long Wharf–I sang (jazz) there back in the late 70s, early 80s. Also did a few gigs at Mary Hartigan’s, a restaurant in Dedham that featured jazz.
Add the Cantab
Was there jazz at the Cantab? I’ll have to look. Meanwhile, someone emailed me and told me to add a club near the Cantab on Mass Ave, the Plough and Stars.
This is an astonishingly thorough list of venues.
Thanks, Charles. How many have you been in?
The restaurant at the Orson Welles Cinema featured jazz from time to time during the dinner hour. That’s where I heard Claudio Roditi for the first time, when he was still at Berklee
Another one to add to my list for Cambridge in the 70s. Thanks!
Thank you for this!
Terrific!
There was a VFW on Green Street in Cambridge that had a jazz policy for a number of years. It was downstairs in a building nearby Charlie’s Tap, perhaps next door. I played there many times in the late 80’s.
I know the building, but I never knew there was music there. I’ll put it on the list. Thanks!