Detroit clubs and record stores recommendations sought.

[Dmitry]

I'll be in Detroit for a brief visit, and have the night of Friday, Oct.14 open. Will appreciate any and all recommendations on where to listen to good jazz, and what's the best record store in town.

Thanks!

 

 

Edited October 8, 2016 by Dmitry

[Dmitry]

Anyone from Detroit here, who can weigh in on these 2 clubs?

So far I found just a couple of places that will have jazz that night.  Baker's Keyboard Lounge is where I wanted to go, but doesn't look like there's much of anything interesting happening there. 

There's a Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe, which will have Scott Gwinell's band. Don't know who that is. http://www.dirtydogjazz.com/EventDetail/?id=6897

The other, and a more plausible option is Burt's Marketplace, which has jam sessions on Friday nights.  http://www.metrotimes.com/detroit/berts-marketplace/Location?oid=2125897

[Mark Stryker]

Dmitry -- just saw your question.

Baker's website lists the Detroit All-Star Organ Quartet on that Friday -- I'm currently checking to find out who exactly is in that band, but that indeed maybe your best bet on that night, because I think it might be a strong group, including a killer guitarist, Perry Hughes. I post here to let you know when I hear something.

Scott Gwinell is good pianist-composer-teacher, who does a little of everything, including leading is own big band -- but this will be a small group gig. Not sure who is in the band, but I could find out. The Dirty Dog is over in Grosse Pointe Farms. It's a high-end restaurant in a swanky suburb. Food is good but not cheap; there is a bar where you can nurse drinks. Totally different kind of experience than Baker's, which is a neighborhood joint in the city. The Dirty Dog is owned by Gretchen Valade, who owns Mack Avenue Records and is also the primary patron supporting the Detroit Jazz Festival

Bert's is another longtime neighborhood joint -- old school Detroit hang,, soul food, etc. Friday's steady band is still probably led by good trumpeter named John Douglas.

The other club I would typically suggest checking out is Cliff Bell's -- jazz basically six/seven nights a week, but they appear close on Friday for a private party.

When you say record stores, I assume you mean LPs, yes? We have a TON of stores. Will you have a car? Dearborn Music on Michigan Ave. in Dearborn is worth the drive -- best all-around store, including very large selection of used LPs and used CDs, large selection of new CDs, including imports. In the downtown Detroit area, there are two smaller used LP stores you should try to get to as well: Peoples' Records on Gratiot (very near Bert's) and Hello Records on Trumbell. Other stores in the metro area -- Encore Records (one of the great stores on the country but in Ann Arbor so a 50 min drive from downtown Detroit), Street Corner Records in Greenfield in Oak Park, UHF Music in Royal Oak; Found Sound in Ferndale.

 

 

 

 

Edited October 9, 2016 by Mark Stryker

[Dmitry]

2 hours ago, Mark Stryker said:

Baker's website lists the Detroit All-Star Organ Quartet on that Friday -- I'm currently checking to find out who exactly is in that band, but that indeed maybe your best bet on that night, because I think it might be a strong group, including a killer guitarist, Perry Hughes. I post here to let you know when I hear something.

 

Mark, thank you very much for such a thoughtful response! Just what I was looking for!

I'd love to go to the Keyboard Lounge, if the program is what you describe, but I checked BKL website prior to posting my query, and they don't show that Organ Quartet that Friday. They list a Michael Hanna [I'm assuming it's Roland Hanna's vocalist son] on Oct.14.

http://www.theofficialbakerskeyboardlounge.com/facilities

I''ll be staying at Westin Book Cadillac, on Washington Blvd, so Bert's is the closest club, and People's Records the closest record store, both within walking distance. Hopefully the weather's good.

Edited October 9, 2016 by Dmitry

[Mark Stryker]

I'm hearing that Bert's might be having something special on Friday -- bassist Bob Hurst leading a band starting at 10:45, though it would actually be at Bert's Warehouse, which is next door to Bert's Marketplace. I'm emailing Bob to try to get more info, and will post what I learn. Stand by.

[Dmitry]

Cool! Wish I had more than one night to spare. Bert's sounds like an interesting joint.

[Mark Stryker]

23 hours ago, Dmitry said:

Cool! Wish I had more than one night to spare. Bert's sounds like an interesting joint.

Bob Hurst is definitely playing afterhours tonight at Bert's Warehouse, though I've seen the start time listed as early at 10:45 and as late as midnight. Keep in mind, this would be after the earlier regular sets at Bert's Marketplace.

[Dmitry]

I'm at Burt 's now. Got me a catfish sandwich dinner.  Musicians are about ready to start setting up. I love these neighborhood joints. They have that timeless Formica-checkered linoleum architecture. Except waitresses are a whole lot prettier in this place.

[Dmitry]

Back home! Wish I had more time to spend in Detroit.

Burt's was great. Just the kind of place where I enjoy listening to music. People are unpretentious, loud, appreciative and unforgiving. The band was all right, fronted by a very young trumpeter Denard [sorry, didn't catch whether it was his christian or last name], who is heavily into Miles, by the sound of him.

Also went to the Peoples' Records on Gratiot, upon Mark's suggestion. Spent about 90 minutes ruffling through their vast jazz section. This is the first record store I've been to that has a separate Jimmy McGriff section. And a Groove Holmes section! Judging by the number of various soul-jazz records from the 1960s, the people of Detroit really liked to have a good time.

Here's what I picked up. Never heard of Odell brown before...