All That Jazz

Whatever your vibe, there’s a jazz experience in Tallahassee for you. Whether it’s a classy dinner date or eating boiled peanuts and dancing to New Orleans riffs, you can find an offering somewhere in the city almost any night of the week. 

On Tuesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. at Ology Midtown, hip folks of all ages gather to listen to the Florida State University–sponsored house band, under the leadership of pianist Blake Dwelle. According to Dwelle, the offerings run the gamut from traditional jazz standards to tunes with a hip-hop influence. After a 40-minute house set, professors, alumni, and students from the FSU jazz program step in for a rousing jam.

During the school year, the crowd spills out onto the sidewalk, so it’s best to get there early for a seat. As Ology is also a popular brewery, you can enjoy a craft brew while you’re waiting—or something stronger if that’s the way your palate rolls.

What’s the big draw? “It’s the energy,” says Joe Clark, a regular jazz night attendee for the past two years. “You just never know what you’re gonna hear.”

Photos by Pablo Gabes

On the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month, you can hear some of the best New Orleans traditional jazz outside of Louisiana at The Sound Bar from 7 to 10 p.m. Joe Goldberg and The Function perform music popularized by the jazz greats. The lively tunes will you have bouncing in your seats—or on the dance floor of the spacious room.

Goldberg, who plays sax, clarinet, and the flute, offers entertaining and informative commentary on the musical selections. The six-member (sometimes more) band consists of trombone, trumpet, upright bass, drums, piano, and whichever instrument Goldberg happens to be playing. Often, a local singer joins the lineup for a few songs, and on some occasions, you might even get a chance to hear legendary jazz pianist Marcus Roberts step in for a guest appearance.

The bar offers a wide selection of beer and wine as well as tasty bar food and boiled peanuts. We recommend an order of gooey nachos to enjoy along with the finger-snapping music.

Also on Wednesday evenings from 5 to 8, pianist and saxophonist Rhys Bennett takes the stage at the popular Café de Martín, where you can sit on the patio, dine on delicious Peruvian offerings, sip a cocktail, and get your jazz fix.

Photos courtesy of The Monroe

Not to be missed is Blue Tavern, the most “Tallahassee” of all the venues. The second Thursday of every month features an open jazz jam with FSU’s Jacob Wright on sax and two to three other musicians comprising the house band.

“We play a set at 8, and after we’re done, we open up the session to whoever would like to call a tune and play,” Wright says. “It’s usually a pretty steady rotation of FSU and FAMU students as well as other members of the community. I’ve even had some of my high-school students come through with their families and play.” At the end of the session, the house band plays one more set to close out the night.

Blue Tavern offers reasonably priced sandwiches, soups, beer, and wine.

For an evening of fine dining and jazz, Friday night from 6 to 8 at The Monroe is where it’s at. The food is superb, with extensive wine, beer, and cocktail offerings. You can grab a table closer to the band for the full jazz experience, or get one farther back for a more music-in-the-background atmosphere. Bennett, an alum of FSU, leads the house band, and the music creates the perfect setting for dinner with friends or a romantic date.

Finally, the last Saturday night of every month takes us back to Blue Tavern, where FSU professor and master percussionist Michael Bakan hosts the “Jazzmatazz” series from 8 to 10. FSU alum Hannah Duhon’s band, Trombone Madness, recently debuted at Jazzmatazz.

Photos courtesy of The Sound Bar

“Performing with my band for the Jazzmatazz series was a wonderful experience,” says Duhon, who plays trombone and writes her own compositions.  “I was excited to play a selection of my arrangements for friends and the denizens of Blue Tavern, including two special guests: my mom and the esteemed pianist Marcus Roberts.” 

With renowned jazz programs at Florida State and Florida A&M universities, the local scene could eventually make Tallahassee a destination for jazz lovers. For now, it’s our little secret.

Venues

Ology Midtown

118 E. Sixth Avenue

(850) 296-2809

The Sound Bar

1105 Tharpe Street

(850) 320-2859

CafÉ de MartÍn

2743 Capital Circle NE

(850) 900-5969

The Blue Tavern

1206 N. Monroe Street
(850) 815-8566