Chicago couldn’t really be the birthplace of jazz, however, it’s obviously a city where the class is flourishing and developing. The home of Down Beat Magazine and the legendary AACM aggregate, Chicago has pushed artistic expression in new directions for a really long time. While summer music festivals like the Chicago Jazz Festival and the Hyde Park Jazz Festival demonstrate the local area’s expansiveness and prowess, it’s the small jazz clubs that keep the music alive over time.
Some of the best Chicago jazz clubs are places where saxophones and improvised music rule the schedule, acquainting audiences with remarkable individuals and rising talent. Whether you favor bop, swing, free jazz, or acid, you’ll track down something to tap your foot along to at the best jazz clubs in Chicago.
8 Best Jazz Clubs In Chicago
1. The Green Mill (Live Jazz Chicago)
There’s no scarcity of Chicago jazz clubs as natives are big fans of the music genre. Al Capone and different gangsters used to hang over here during the 1920s, yet these days everything no doubt revolves around the music. Proprietor Dave Jemilo, who returned the club to its unique luster during the 1980s, books free jazz and smart bebop with a discriminating ear.
Nearby favorites Candid Catalano and Patricia Hair stylist both keep up with residencies over time and the music frequently goes on as late as 2 am (5 am on Saturdays). Show up before the expected time, snatch a mixed drink and settle in for a long night.
The Green Mill Address: 4802 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60640, USA
2. Constellation Jazz Club
Situated in the previous home of the Viaduct Theater, this jazz lounge Chicago houses some of the city’s most contemporary classical, improvised music, or progressive jazz. Established by drummer and Pitchfork Music Festival talent purchaser Mike Reed, Constellation boasts two execution spaces and a bar offering reasonably priced brew and cocktails.
From neighborhood jazz groups to touring cutting-edge performers, the setting is Chicago’s destination for any music that is considered “too weird” for the rock clubs.
Constellation Jazz Club Address: 3111 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60618, United States
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3. Chicago Hungry Brain
In the wake of closing suddenly in 2014, the Hungry Brain has been resurrected by Mike Reed, who also owns and books the close-by, exploratory inclining Constellation. It is among the best jazz clubs in Chicago. The Roscoe Village bar has gotten somewhat of a makeover, yet visitors will still find modest brew, a jukebox loaded up with profound cuts, and standard performances from members of Chicago’s flourishing exploratory jazz scenes, such as Greg Ward and Dave Rempis.
Hungry Brain Jazz Club Address: 2319 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60618, United States
4. Andys Jazz Club Chicago (Among Jazz Clubs Downtown Chicago)
Andys jazz club Chicago is one of a kind! This mainstream jazz shelter runs low-key residencies, standard, with some of Chicago’s most respected scene elders, Mike Smith and Andy Brown among them.
Ordinary shows such as Charles Heath’s Ambitious people Jazz Jam on Sundays and the Trumpet Summit are constants of the neighborhood jazz scene worth revisiting occasionally. It’s an agreeable, personal space where you can come around for a mixed drink, or make a night of it by requesting something from the restaurant’s respectable menu, making it among the best Chicago jazz clubs right now!
Andy’s Jazz Club & Restaurant Address: 11 E Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
5. The Whistler Bar (Jazz Bar)
Delicious luxurious cocktails may be this Logan Square bar’s forte, however, the small room hosts an ever-increasing number of superb underground pop shows and workmanship exhibits. The group can’t arrive at triple digits, so closeness with both the musicians and your neighbor’s elbows is inescapable.
The Whistler jazz bar features the week-by-week Relax Attack Jazz Series as one of its primary attractions, with state-of-the-art swing and free on Tuesdays (nighttime). It is among the best jazz clubs in Chicago among jazz music lovers.
The Whistler Bar Address: 2421 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647, United States
Did You Know: The oldest jazz club in Chicago is “The Jazz Showcase”
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6. Elastic Arts Jazz Club in Chicago
Elastic Arts is a not-for-benefit, all-ages spot in no time become one of the chief venues in the city for free jazz, electronic, and other left-of-the-dial music. You’ll usually track down interesting craftsmanship on the walls, modest lager at the bar, and something on the schedule to acquire you back the next few weeks.
The group ranges from hipsters to more established jazz fans to the curious and unenlightened, however, there’s no terrorizing factor — it’s always amicable. It is one of the ‘must-visit’ and best jazz clubs in Chicago.
Elastic Arts Chicago Address: 3429 W Diversey Ave #208, Chicago, IL 60647, United States
7. The California Clipper (For Live Jazz Music Chicago)
Brendan Sodikoff took over the ’30s-time mixed drink bar in 2014, it’s still magnificently low-key with live music, a jukebox, and glowing red lights — yet presently with better drinks. Jazz rules the schedule, with standard appearances from the likes of Scratch Mazzarella and Jeremy Cunningham, yet you can also stop by for bingo and the Clipper Nightclub burlesque show every month.
The California Clipper Address: 1002 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, United States
8. FitzGerald’s (Chicago Jazz Club)
The best jazz clubs Chicago are not at all hard to find! Perhaps Chicago’s head roots music showcase, this friendly FitzGerald’s jazz bar in Berwyn is best known for a variety of zydeco, folk, rockabilly, country, and blues acts. It’s also one of a handful of the excess outposts for large band jazz, hosting a setup of nearby swing orchestras on Sundays. Every Wednesday, guests can head nearby to go to one of the SideBar Sessions, which pairs acoustic jazz performances with classic cocktails.
FitzGerald’s Jazz Club Address: 6615 Roosevelt Rd, Berwyn, IL 60402, United States
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Now you know the 8 best jazz clubs in Chicago, which is a blend of traditional to modern beats, plan a visit to these iconic clubs to fall in love with the saxophone and tempting beats. Don’t forget to order your favorite drink while listening to jazz masterpieces!