Best Jazz Clubs in Portland, Oregon
Keywords: jazz clubs, jazz music, portland jazz
If you're in Portland, Oregon and are in the mood for some jazz music, where do you go? Some say all you gotta do is ask the locals. In reality, not even many of them know where the best jazz clubs in Portland, Oregon are. This is because the establishments are so laid back and unassuming, despite the crowd that flock them every night.
Take, for example, Jimmy Mak's. Positively this town's most popular jazz club, locals come here to listen. The atmosphere is so relaxing, just like a true jazz haven should be. Food? Middle Eastern and Greek dishes are crowd pleasers. The real deal about Jimmy Mak's is that they have an extremely talented resident jazz band -- the Mel Brown Jazz Orchestra -- and they also welcome upcoming jazz artists in the performance roster. If you don't feel like paying for cover charge, you should drop by on Mondays. But if you're in for some real topnotch jazz, scurry in to listen to Mel Brown Jazz Orchestra on Tuesdays, the Mel Brown Quartet headed by Tony Pacini on Wednesdays, and The Mel Brown B-3 Organ Group on Thursdays. For a $5 t0 $10 cover charge, you can't beat the price of listening to these unbelievably gifted jazz performers.
According to the Down Beat Magazine, Jimmy Mak's is "One of the world's top 100 places to hear jazz." If you're curious about their upcoming events, visit their website at http://www.jimmymaks.com/index.html. This Portland, Oregon jazz club is open daily from 5 p.m. until 1 p.m., except Sundays.
Located at Southwest Portland in the downtown area, the West Cafe is another jazz hotspot in Oregon. Live jazz music in Portland, Oregon on Saturdays overwhelm the amazing food they serve. Overall though, people come here more to eat and relax after a hard day's work. Their drinks list is pretty creative, despite the mostly American cuisine. Unfortunately, many locals and visitors in Portland, Oregon, tend to miss this little gem of a jazz club because it is located off the beaten path. Yet, it is situated blocks away from Arlene Schnitzer Hall and The Portland Center for Performing Arts so you could not miss it. If you would like to check out their events calendar or find out what's happening, check out their blog at http://www.westcafepdx.com/blog/.
If you're caught in the middle of southeast Portland, the Industrial District, or the Central Eastside, I recommend you stop by at Produce Row Cafe. Even though the name itself doesn't ring a jazz tune, it's a hotspot for self-proclaimed jazz club enthusiasts. This place will make you love Portland, Oregon even deeper than you already do (or convert a non-believer) because the food is so affordable and the beer and whisky list are outstanding. Did I say the beer list is outstanding? Sit by the patio and drink the happy hour until 7 pm. In Portland, Oregon, there's not a lot of places that will let you enjoy this luxury, not even the most popular jazz clubs. Save your Monday nights here for real live jazz music. Their website, http://producerowcafe.com/, publish upcoming events so keep checking for a great artist or an exciting jazz club band you've never heard before.
