The Best Jazz Clubs in Chicago

Green Mill Cocktail Lounge

• A popular spot for jazz music since the club first opened in 1907, the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge features live music six nights a week and poetry slams on Sunday. Al Jolson and Sophie Tucker once sang here, and Frank Sinatra was a fan. In addition to its rich history, what the Green Mill offers customers is jazz variety. Style can range from night to night, from dixieland to swing to bebop. The club is located in uptown Chicago; visitors to downtown will need to take a cab or the El in order to get there. The decor of the restaurant reflects the Green Mill's ties to history, with photos of past performers filling the walls.

  The Green Mill is in a brick building on an uptown neighborhood corner, with a pizza place on one side and another bar on the other. The clientele consists of locals who have been coming for years or jazz fans from around the country. The atmosphere, though, is laid back, with dancing encouraged.

  Green Mill‎ Cocktail Lounge
  4802 North Broadway
  Chicago, IL 60640-3667
  (773) 878-5552
  greenmilljazz.com‎

Jazz Showcase

• Seeing a show at the Jazz Showcase has to be like seeing a baseball game at the Hall of Fame. The Jazz Showcase has hosted the greats of the bebop style of jazz, including John Coltrane, Dave Brubeck, Duke Ellington and Dizzy Gillespie. With shows every night of the week, the Jazz Showcase is a popular spot for CD release parties and special events in the city. One of the first things patrons will notice is its high ticket price.

  Once inside the Showcase, you will notice its great open space. The stage features a huge portrait of Charlie Parker behind it. Because of the high price and the place's history, a night at the Jazz Showcase has the atmosphere of a museum trip. Framed programs from past performances line the walls. There are some nice amenities, including a sofa around the edge of the room and a wooden bar which serves drinks all night.

  Jazz Showcase
  Dearborn Station
  806 S. Plymouth Ct.
  Chicago, IL 60605
  (312) 360-0234
  jazzshowcase.com

The Velvet Lounge

• The Velvet Lounge has made a big splash since it opened in the 1980s. Now at a new location, the club specializes in what it calls the Chicago-style of jazz. More of a free-form fusion style, each night ends with a "Velvet Jam," which can last late into the night. Many artists and customers come to hear owner and legendary tenor player Fred Anderson. The lounge is located in a sketchy neighborhood, surrounded by housing projects. Visitors will want to drive there, since cabs won't come by after closing time. The nearest El station is a hike. Parking is ample in from the lounge. Inside, you will find that the music makes up for what the decor lacks. The atmosphere is that of a dive bar, with cheap drinks and roughed-up tables and chairs.

  The Velvet Lounge
  67 E. Cermak Road
  Chicago, Illinois 60616
  (312) 791-9050.
  velvetlounge.net