This is a list of notable
venues where
jazz music is played. It includes
jazz clubs,
clubs,
dancehalls and historic venues such as
theatres. A jazz club is a
venue where the primary entertainment is the performance of live
jazz music. Jazz clubs are usually a type of
nightclub or bar, which is licensed to sell alcoholic beverages. Jazz clubs were in large rooms in the eras of
Orchestral jazz and
big band jazz, when bands were large and often augmented by a
string section. Large rooms were also more common in the Swing era, because at that time, jazz was popular as a
dance music, so the dancers needed space to move. With the transition to 1940s-era styles like
Bebop and later styles such as
soul jazz, small combos of musicians such as
quartets and
trios were mostly used, and the music became more of a music to listen to, rather than a form of dance music. As a result, smaller clubs with small stages became practical.
In the 2000s, jazz clubs may be found in the basements of larger
residential buildings, in
storefront locations or in the upper floors of retail businesses. They can be rather small compared to other music venues, such as
rock music clubs, reflecting the intimate atmosphere of jazz shows and long-term decline in popular interest in jazz.[1] Despite being called "clubs", these venues are usually not exclusive. Some clubs, however, have a
cover charge if a live band is playing. Some jazz clubs host "
jam sessions" after hours or on early evenings of the week. At jam sessions, both professional musicians and advanced amateurs will typically share the stage.