Austin’s rich history as the live music capital of the world extends into many genres as the illustrious city became home to musicians of all kinds. The history of jazz music in Austin extends all the way back to the 1920s during segregation when the city pushed the African-American community east of I-35. Becoming a hub of culture and music, jazz found its roots in East Austin, which hosted jazz musicians from around the country from the ‘40s to the ‘70s. Austin’s current music scene preserves the vibrant culture in venues across the city. The Daily Texan compiled a list of fantastic spots to appreciate jazz music.
A unique mainstay of the jazz scene in Austin, Elephant Room opened in 1991 in the basement of the iconic Swift building in downtown Austin. The club got its name after the developer of the building dug underground and happened to find the largest archeological discovery of mastodon bones west of the Mississippi. The cozy venue’s low ceiling and dark interior create a very intimate listening experience that helps audiences connect to the music. With acts performing every day of the month, Elephant Room works as a great spot for a night out.
Voted as the “Best Virtual Listening Room” by Austin Chronicle’s readers in 2021, the young venue lives up to its name. Opened with humble beginnings as a pop-up listening room in a tire shop, the club evolved into a state-of-the-art recording studio and event space in the heart of East Austin. Finding innovative ways to keep jazz and the club alive during the pandemic, Monks Jazz Club hosted live streams for full bands. The now permanent home of the club provides an authentic jazz experience, with art-covered walls and a casual listening experience fit for any live music lover to appreciate.
For those looking for a high-quality listening experience, look no further than Parker Jazz Club. Opened in 2018 by Kris Kimura, an Austin-based woodwind specialist, vocalist, composer, arranger and bandleader, the club was meticulously designed, complete with a basement lounge to cater to its fabulous musicians and incredible acoustics to maximize sound quality. Curated for a more traditional jazz club feel, the large stage stands as the focal point, with an accompanying sizable audience of chairs and a bar serving bites and drinks featuring a beautiful multicolored mural behind the bottles. Parker Jazz Club truly created a space made by musicians for musicians that provides a great experience for jazz lovers.
As the self-proclaimed “granddaddy of live music venues,” The Continental Club’s rich history serving the Austin music community garnered the spot an esteemed reputation. Opened in 1955 as a private supper club, the club soon found itself becoming Austin’s first burlesque club. Finally transitioning to a live music venue, the club hosted some of the most iconic blues and rock acts of the ‘70s and ‘80s. Renovated in ‘87 to match the original ‘50s interior, the gorgeous club, officially recognized by the city of Austin as a historic landmark, boasts a colorful personality and serves delectable drinks and bites. Although Continental hosts mostly blues and country acts, jazz acts are not hard to find in its stacked schedule of acts.
