Hey LBK, we are reposting this story about Jazz Alley (and Jazz: a Louisiana Kitchen) because the stalwart quartet will be playing at Caviel’s Soundstage this Wednesday, November 11th. Doors Open at 6:30. There’ll be food, and your ticket gets you two drinks. Come jam with us at Caviel’s Museum of African American History.
Click here to get tickets.
Original Story
A few months ago, Lovely Wife and I went down to Austin for an award ceremony for for municipal video production workers in Texas. We attended conferences during the day, but we had a couple free evenings. On one of those evenings, we happened across a cool little underground jazz club. And when I say underground, I mean it in both senses: “not widely publicized”, and “subterranean”.
The Elephant Room was one of those unbelievably dope and authentic places where you can just feel the local vibe. The ambiance. We thoroughly enjoyed having drinks, conversation, and jamming to some real cool jazz.
So you can imagine how pleased we were to find a very similar local joint that was somehow unknown to us, even though we’ve known about it for years.
Of course I’m talking about Jazz - a Louisiana Kitchen. Mr. Joe Phea mentioned to us during conversation that he plays in a band at Jazz every Thursday at 9, and invited us to come check it out.
Later that evening, we decided on the spur of the moment to go ahead and go. I am sure glad we did. Picture a little restaurant/bar “where everybody knows your name”. For some odd reason, almost every surface in the joint has real dollar bills taped to it. Most of the bills have names, or drawings and logos on them. The overall impression is just “a vibe” as the kids say.
We got there about 9:30, 9:45 while the band, Jazz Alley, were taking a break in-between sets. There was a small crowd of regulars and newbies like us; not at all crowded or uncomfortable. There was actually friendly banter and laughs going back and forth between unrelated parties at different tables. Everyone seemed in good spirits.
At some point, when Jazz Alley retook the stage, the good times really began. They played everything from hard jazz to Stevie Wonder. And they were good. Exquisite musicians who could sing as well as play.
From what I gathered, these gentlemen have been playing at Jazz every Thursday for almost 40 years. That is so Lubbock! Good people doing what they do with excellence and humility until they become fixtures in the culture. That’s what makes Lubbock special.
Mr. Bobby Roberts and Ms. Wendy Holliday appeared to be very familiar with the “Jazz at Jazz”, and were having a really good time. Mr. Roberts’ shirt sums up our feelings on local institutions like both the restaurant and the band:
We do indeed need to “Keep Lubbock Secret”, especially from non-Texans. But, let’s not forget to tell each other about these unassuming local gems!
Speaking of local gems, we also stopped by the new bar and grill called Rhythm and Brews, located over off Texas Avenue and I-27. They’ve been open about a month; yet another cool local joint with good vibes and even better drinks and grub.
We are most definitely gonna stop back by there later on this month, and do a more in-depth exploration.
Have you been out to “Jazz” and heard Jazz Alley play? Have you been to Rhythm and Brews? What’d you think?