Downtown Chicago Jazz

You don't have to wait for the annual jazz fest to find and listen to some fabulous jazz in Downtown Chicago. Just head to any of these popular spots! Call or visit their website for play dates and schedules.

Venues
Andy's, 11 E. Hubbard St., 312-642-6805 (River North), www.andysjazzclub.com
One of my long-time favorites. A mainstay of this River North neighborhood since 1951. Though Andy's has been through a lot of changes in the past several decades, it still retains its local “neighborhood hangout” look and feel. They also have a big menu of delicious pub fare.

Catch 35, 35 W. Wacker Dr., 312-346-3500 (Loop), www.catch35.com
An upscale seafood/steak restaurant with a jazz club inside. Who knew?

Close-Up 2, 416 S. Clark St., 312-385-1111 (Loop), www.closeup2jazz.com
One of the newest additions to the downtown jazz club scene. Billed as a “smooth jazz” club, catering to the upscale professional.

Pop's for Champagne, 601 N. State St., 312-266-7677 (River North), www.popsforchampagne.com
Upscale champagne bar with a side of live jazz, in the bustling River North neighborhood just a few blocks east of the Magnificent Mile.

Segal's Jazz Showcase, 806 S. Plymouth Ct., 312-360-0234 (Loop), www.jazzshowcase.com
The Jazz Showcase has had several homes in the Downtown area since its founding in 1947. Now up and running in the Dearborn Station complex just south of the Loop, it lives again, and is still managed by founder Joe Segal with his son Wayne.

Jazz Record Mart, 27 E. Illinois St., 312-322-1467 (River North), www.jazzmart.com
OK, it's not a jazz club. But it THE only place downtown to go for the full range of all that is jazz music! Known as “the world's largest jazz and blues record store”. Imagine that – the world's largest! If you can't find (or order) it here, it probably doesn't exist.