Blues/Jazz Clubs in Chicago


My wife and I are going to Chicago in the next few weeks and wonder if anyone can recommend spots for blues or jazz. Sorry if this seems silly but my web search so far has not been that helpful. Thanks in advance
gajgmusic

Showing 1 response by fishboat

If your heading to the windy city then don't miss Buddy Guy. Hopefully he isn't on the road when you're visiting. Seeing Buddy Guy is worth the trip to Chicago on its own let alone any other reason you have. He's a consummate showman. I recently saw him in a theatre in Milwaukee. He doesn't have any set playlist when he gives a show...he just plays whatever he feels like at the time, including improvisation...and his band just has to (try to) keep up. Occasionally they just give up and wait until he "returns", as he will, eventually. (He has an excellent band) Much like Picasso did in painting, Buddy can (and does) play in the style of about any blues/rock artist you can imagine and he's old enough to have played with most of them. He has a style of working/talking with an audience that's almost conversational and makes you feel he's not so much giving a stock show (which he isn't) as he's just hanging out with you for an evening and doing some jamming. He likes to walk down into the audience while he's playing and talk to people. Sort of a relaxed evening mixed with incredible music. In the show I saw he played long past what he was scheduled for...they had to pry him off the stage as he was just getting warmed up.

What can I say that I haven't said...go see him.