CHURCHILL GROUNDS
660 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30308
Website: www.churchillgrounds.com
Located next door to the Fox Theatre in Midtown, Churchill Grounds is Atlanta's premiere jazz club. Churchill Grounds offers the best live jazz in Atlanta, and is arguably among the best jazz clubs anywhere. That's at least in part due to the fact that the Churchill Grounds takes its commitment to America's first true native musical form very seriously. But the club isn't merely committed to bringing top jazz musicians like Cedar Walton, Freddie Cole, Chico Freeman and Marcus Printup to its intimate stage -- it also contributes to the art form's future growth by showcasing the hottest up-and-coming talent the Atlanta jazz scene has to offer.
In addition to great live jazz, Churchill Grounds features a limited but excellent menu of appetizers, entrees, and desserts. They also have a great selection of wines, liquors and fine coffees. Add in top-notch service and it's no wonder why Churchill Grounds is the best jazz club in Atlanta.
In addition to its Tuesday night jam session, Churchill Grounds currently hosts weekly performances by top Atlanta jazz musicians including Russell Gunn, Takana Miyamoto, Bernard Linnette, Melvin Jones, and Mace Hibbard. See Churchill Grounds' online calendar for more information.
Rick's comments
I've seen dozens of great jazz performances at Churchill Grounds, including the incredible Atlanta Jazz Festival jam session of 2005. Churchill Grounds truly is Atlanta's premiere jazz club and should definitely be high on your list of places to see live jazz in Atlanta.
STUDIO 281
281 Peters Street, Atlanta, GA 30313
Website: www.studio281.com
Located in the Castleberry Hill loft area (just south of downtown Atlanta), Studio 281 features straight-ahead jazz in an intimate 50-seat room with a baby grand piano and full bar.
Visit the Studio 281 website to learn more about the club and its events.
TWAIN'S BILLIARDS AND TAP
211 E Trinity Place, Decatur, GA 30030
Website: www.twains.net
Twain's isn't a true jazz club by any stretch (it's a bar/restaurant with everything that entails), but they've become home to some of the finest jazz you'll hear in Atlanta. In my opinion, the Tuesday night jam session is the best jam session in Atlanta.
APACHE CAFE
64 3rd Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30308
Website: www.apachecafe.info
Apache Cafe isn't strictly a jazz club, but they do feature jazz acts from time to time. They also have a jam session on Wednesdays (hosted by Al Smith) which features jazz, R&B, and neo-soul musicians.
Check out the Apache Cafe calender of events for more information.
THE VELVET NOTE
4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, GA, 30022
Website: thevelvetnote.com
The Velvet Note hosts a weekly jazz jam session on Thursday nights, with additional concerts each Friday and Saturday. They aren't strictly a straight-ahead jazz club, however they do regularly feature some of Atlanta's best straight-ahead jazz musicians.
CAFE 290
290 Hilderbrand Dr NE, Atlanta, GA 30328
Website: www.cafe290atlanta.com
Cafe 290 features live music several nights a week. The music varies from straight-ahead to contemporary/smooth jazz.
Rick's comments
On the first and third Monday of each month, Joe Gransden brings a 16-piece big band to Cafe 290 that features just about every great jazz musician in Atlanta. On a recent night, the band included Kevin Bales, Mace Hibbard, Brian Hogans, John Sandfort, Anton Harris, Justin Varnes, Melvin Jones, Lester Walker, Wes Funderburk, just to name a few. Don't miss this fantastic band!
GEORGIA SHRIMP CO. RESTAURANT
100 North Peachtree Parkway, #36, Peachtree City, GA 30269
Website: www.georgiashrimpco.com
A restaurant featuring live jazz on various nights, including a jazz jam session on Tuesdays. An events calendar shows who will be performing on each night.
