Before Detroit became the center of the R&B universe in the sixties, it was one of the hot stops on the traveling jazz scene. At the center of the Detroit jazz community was Baker’s Keyboard Lounge. Baker’s started out as a tiny rural diner in 1934 and, with the addition of a piano in the late-thirties, become a jazz mecca in a region far removed from the major jazz clubs …more…

Boasting a gorgeous historic location, Cliff Bell’s recalls the speakeasies of the 1920s that made its namesake a bit of a local legend. The venue brings in some formidable talent and the cover charge is usually very reasonable at $10 for a regular show (this is sometimes higher for bigger names or special events). The food is sophisticated in that turn-of-the-last-century fashion, with items like Wild Mushroom Pot Pie, Oysters …more…

(August 31-September 3, 2012) The Detroit International Jazz Festival, which says that it is the largest free admission event of its kind, is held annually on Labor Day weekend, and has brought the best in jazz to Detroit for almost 30 years. The Jazz Fest occupies more than 2 million square feet of downtown Detroit with several outdoor stages. ...more...

Another major player in the Detroit arts revival is the historic Music Hall and its downstairs Jazz Café. With seating for around 130, this intimate setting hosts thousands of performers a year, including both international touring acts and local talent. On Tuesdays the Café hosts a Discovery Series with a variety of up-and-coming talent and on Wednesdays it holds an R&B jam, all with no cover charge. Food and beverage …more…