The following is a list of venues in the Houston metropolitan area. Not all of these places are strictly jazz clubs, but if they're listed here, then they have, at one time or another, presented jazz music.
Discovery Green is a 12-acre urban park located in downtown Houston across from the George R. Brown Convention Center and the Hilton Americas Hotel. Opening in April 2008, the $122 million park project is a unique public-private partnership between the non-profit Discovery Green Conservancy and the City of Houston. Visitors are set to enjoy signature park features including great lawns, one-acre lake, signature restaurant The Grove, multi-use amphitheater, children’s play area and interactive water fountain as well as seasonal programming and special events.
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Cezanne
Style: Straight-aheadArea: Montrose
A dedicated jazz listening room open Friday and Saturday nights only, now in its 17th year of operation. Performances from 9-1 am, with one group performing three sets. No smoking. Full Bar, some bar snacks, waitstaff. No minimums. For the most part, the music is instrumental straight-ahead. The room features a Yamaha grand piano and holds about 60 patrons. Local headliners include Joe LoCascio, Woody Witt, Dennis Dotson, and Bob Henschen with national acts too. $10 cover for most shows.
Tommy's
Style: Straight-aheadArea: West side (Beltway/Westheimer)
Live jazz Wednesday-Saturday with duo sets W/Th from 6-9pm and quartet sets F/S 8pm-midnight following the F/S 5-7:30pm duo set. The jazz portion of Tommy's is found in the bar where its substantial stage makes a convincing argument that Tommy's is a listening room. Pianist Matt Lemmler is the artistic director and one of the performers each night as he rotates in vocalists and horn players to create a very nice mix of straight-ahead jazz. No cover.
The Red Cat Jazz Cafe
Style: R&B jazz instrumental and vocalArea: Downtown
This downtown room is home to many great instrumental and vocal R&B jazz groups. Smoking, cover charge, dinner menu, full bar. In the summer of 2006, The Yellowjackets and Maysa double-billed here. In rotation are local mainstays Kyle Turner, Mary Griffin, and Dean James.
Ruggles
Style: Fusion/R&B JazzArea: Montrose
On Saturday evenings, the Ruggles piano bar becomes a jazz listening room. $10 cover with music from 8pm - midnight. There's also a lively jazz brunch Sundays from 11am-3pm. No smoking. Full Bar, Full restaurant, waitstaff. The music at Ruggles is primarily instrument and vocal R&B/fusion jazz.
Sambuca
Style: Straight-ahead, Fusion, R&B, Latin, PopArea: Downtown
A popular downtown bar and restaurant with stylish interiors and fashionable patrons. Live music 7 nights a week on a large stage which includes a new Yamaha grand piano. Jazz groups are among the varied artists featured on the roster. Sambuca has brought many name jazz artists to town in the past including Brecker, The Yellowjackets, and others. However, these days they focus mostly on local groups. Common headliners include Norma Zenteno, The Blue Monks, Mark Dini, Tianna Hall, and Dave Marcelin.
Downing Street
Style: Straight-ahead VocalArea: Upper Kirby
If you like thick, smokey rooms with exotic scotch menus and background jazz, look no further than Downing Street. The room features jazz on Sundays and Tuesdays with either vocalist Tianna Hall or The Blue Monks. No cover. Lots of smoke.
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