One of the true tests of a city is, in my opinion, great jazz. Along with excellent markets, fabulous architecture, and great food— jazz is a marker of a city I’ll return to again and again. Jazz in Dallas is perfection.
Dallas is a great city for listening to live music and you can literally go out to a different place every night of the week. I continue to be amazed at the number of extremely talented musicians in this city. Since the 1920s, Dallas has been a hub for great musicians of all genres and thankfully, the tradition continues. I’d go so far as to say that some of the best musicians in the world are in Dallas, Texas.
In most large metropolitan areas, a night out listening to live music could get rather expensive. In Dallas, it’s still affordable. Just.
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Table 13, Addison
Table 13 The owners have created a 1960s Vegas vibe with plush quilted leather booths and acts like Melani Skybell, Henry Munoz and Marc Toussaint Combo. The menu has some traditional retro offerings including cocktails like the Scorpion, Zombie, Manhattan, and Brandy Alexander. Dine on Steak Diane, Chicken Cordon Bleu and Shrimp Scampi (an old favorite of mine). Table 13 is a unique dining and listening experience.
I went on a Thursday night and the place was packed, but the crowd thinned out around 10:00 pm. making it perfect for enjoying the music with fewer distractions.
Go for dinner with a date, or just go to the bar and hang out while romantic ballads, piano, or jazz classics fill the air with sounds that will take you back to the days of the Ratpack.
Chocolate Secrets
Chocolate Secrets, located on the edge of Highland Park (almost in Oak Lawn), is a cozy little cafe offering wine by the glass or bottle, handmade Belgian chocolates, coffees, and desserts. It’s a romantic spot for a date night, or a small intimate group.
Chocolate Secrets has added paninis and a cheese plate to their menu. Stick to the chocolate, coffee, and wine. They’ve also expanded. The new room is large, with lots of tables, but not much personality. I prefer the original rooms which are still there. However, the night I was there the musicians played in the new space. So, go for the wine, chocolate, and music. Great combo I think!
Balcony Club
The Balcony Club, located above the Lakewood Theater in East Dallas, is a long-time favorite, attracting an all ages crowd. On weekends there’s usually a bridal party or two, and always plenty of neighborhood locals. It attracts the famous and the not-so-famous, but it’s always friendly.
Recently updated and remodeled the stage has been moved away from the entrance and some groovy tables and booths have been added – good for getting cozy. The new stage is consistent with the Art Deco architecture of the space and looks great.
The website posts a calendar, but seriously, just go. It’s one of the coolest venues in Dallas, and they are open seven nights a week. Any night at the Balcony Club is a good night.
Reveler’s Hall, Bishop Arts District
Reveler’s Hall is a fun venue located in the historic Bishop Arts District in Oak Cliff. When the weather is nice the storefront opens up and the place become an outdoor covered lounge. Pretty cool. You’ll see people outside crowding the sidewalk on those night. I know I talk about Shelley Carrol a lot but, he’s there every Wednesday. There’s great jazz music from all over the world served with wine, beer, craft cocktails and small plates. Check it out. Just know you should UBER or LYFT or whatever your ride of choice is because parking is impossible in Bishop Arts.
Stoney’s Wine Lounge
Max Naseck Trio at Stoney’s Wine Lounge
Stoney’s Wine Lounge. Stoney and his wife Diane have been a part of the Dallas music scene for a long time, and have created a cozy neighborhood wine bar where live jazz happens on Saturday nights. They know pretty much everyone in the Dallas jazz world, and more than a few people internationally, which means they get great players at Stoney’s. I love the comfortable sofas scattered around and the variety of tables to accommodate couples or larger groups.
They have a small but select offering of wines by the glass, bottle, or to take home. I also like that they serve some appetizers to go with the wines —very civilized. There’s an easygoing atmosphere and good wine selection, which makes Stoney’s one of my favorites.
Scat Jazz Lounge
Shelley Carol at Scat Jazz Lounge, Ft. Worth
Scat Jazz Lounge is located in Fort Worth (about thirty minutes from downtown Dallas). If you are in the area and want more of a big city feeling (think NYC or LA), but off the grid club experience, the Scat is the place to go. I loved the retro vibe, the small room, and the speakeasy atmosphere. While it would be a great place for a date, it’s also fine if you’re just with friends or on your own.
Top local players like Shelley Carol are regulars here.
If you’ve never seen and heard Shelley Carol romancing the saxophone you are missing out. Shelley was the band leader for the Duke Ellington Orchestra and is an icon on the jazz scene. I recently discovered that he also plays flute and sings! He’s an absolute monster. One of the most talented and accessible musicians anywhere.
Another important detail about the Scat: you can’t find it! That’s right, the entrance is down a small alley and then you have to take an elevator to the main entrance. The hipster in you will love it. Be sure to check the calendar as they are not open every night and some nights there is a cover charge – it’s worth it! If the Scat Lounge were in Dallas, I’d be a regular.
Shelley Carol with Jackie, Max Gerl and Todd Parsnow.
The Freeman
Located in the Deep Ellum neighborhood near downtown Dallas, The Freeman has live jazz every night starting at 7pm. This is a great place to catch a variety of styles of music and some of the country’s best musicians. I recently saw guitar virtuoso Todd Parsnow there with Shelley Carol, and once again was blown away by the talent in Dallas, Texas. Todd toured with Grammy winner, Roy Hargrove. Shelley toured with Cheryl Crow and many others. Do check the calendar because the Freeman hosts musicians from all over the world and it’s a chance to see some amazing talent in a really intimate venue.
The atmosphere is ultra-casual and the stage is right up front. For the best seats get there early and sit at the bar or the tables on the side near the stage. Jazz, Swing, and Dixieland daily from 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
The Freeman has a full kitchen and dining room serving traditional New Orleans-style cajun recipes.
Eddie V’s Jazz in Plano
Eddie V’s, photo courtesy of Melanie Skybell
This place bills itself a jazz lounge with live music seven nights a week. Dallas jazz singer and pianist Melanie Skybell clued me into EddieV.
Happy Hour is usually very busy, and folks often drink cosmos or martinis with the appetizers on the happy hour menu. Later the lounge turns into a plush dinner spot. If you fancy dancing in front of the band or just chilling and listening, you’ll be right at home at Eddie V’s. By-the-way, Eddie V’s has locations across the country. Check it out.
8 Bells Alehouse
Currently closed Undetermined if they will reopen at this time.
8 Bells Alehouse is located near Fair Park and has a very warm and casual vibe, much like a European pub. This is the sister restaurant of 10 Bells Tavern in Oak Cliff, located in the space formerly known as New Amsterdam. You’ll notice it looks similar but better. The new owners have added a kitchen serving up really good pub food, and the prices are easy on the wallet. The same great patio out back also benefits from some updating.
31 comments
Are these place hard to find a seat because me and my friend are coming from arkansas to dallas to celebrate my birthday. And would like to found a good jazz club to go to that have seats. It’s going to be ten of us. And if we have to get there early around what time.
Not at all! Google is your friend
There is a true jazz venue created by a musician for musicians. It’s called The Kitchen Cafe. It’s located on Preston Rd in Addison. Also there is Stoney’s Wine Lounge and Times Ten in the lower Greenville Ave area.
Evelyn, I’ve heard of the Kitchen. It’s on my list. I’ve been to Stoney’s many times and it’s included in my other article 5 More Great Places For Jazz. There’s a link in this article which you have commented on. I live in the Lakewood area and have also been to Times 10 Cellars. Didn’t know that musicians owned Times 10. I’ll have to research that. I know they have wine.
Sandaga is the best place in Dallas to check out live Jazz. No list of Dallas Jazz would be complete with including Sandaga.
Hey Jeffrey, thanks for pointing that out. I need to get over there.
Please checkout Sandaga 813 Jazz Night every Tues 8:30p ’til 1am. Hot jazz every week!
813 Exposition Blvd (up the street from the old Amsterdam Bar)
Thanks for the comment. Have been meaning to get to Sandaga.
Are there some jazz places that have seats on Saturday nights?
Do you typically find that most of these places are standing room only on Saturday nights? I was most curious about The Balcony Club and Chocolate Secrets.
Hi Jeanine
It depends on the place. Chocolate Secrets you will be able to find a seat, you many not be able to see the musicians, also depends on what time you go.
The Balcony Club is fluid. You usually don’t have to wait too long for a seat.
First these are not jazz venues. Unfortunately dallas does not have a true jazz venue for those who know what real jazz is. Brooklyn’s jazz cafe was the closest but sadly they closes months back. Please don’t be mislead by the reviews above.
Hi John, http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/venue
Check it out. Any place where an event of any kind is held can be a “venue.” These are not exclusively jazz venues, but good, even great, jazz music can be heard in many places around Dallas that are not limited to jazz. I will be updating this article, as one of these venues is now closed. If you have any suggestions for great venues to listen to jazz in Dallas – meaning any place where great players are – I’d love to hear about it. Thanks for the comment.
The term “jazz” means different things to different people. I think this is a great article for the casual music fan that occasionally enjoys listening to some jazz. The venues mentioned are all great places to go to hear some excellent local musicians play live. I highly recommend the Balcony Club especially. But as more of a hard core jazz fan, I find Dallas frustratingly limited in it’s jazz offerings, especially compared to other major cities. So for me the assertion that Dallas is a great jazz city “where excellent jazz venues abound” is a bit misleading. But that is my take and I don’t mean to be negative about the article. I think it highlights some really wonderful places to hear good live music that many people may not know about.
I would be interested in knowing the specific jazz tastes of the author. How do you define “great jazz”?
Hi Charlie, The Balcony Club is a great venue. I’m happy that it’s still around. I consider myself really lucky to personally know a lot of excellent musicians in Dallas. In fact, I think the number of excellent musicians of all genres of music that are from Texas is amazing! To me, any venue where excellent musicians play is a good venue. I’ve noticed that a lot of other excellent musicians often show up at these gigs as well. Since I don’t live and breath jazz (I like it, but I also like a lot of other genres of music), I find Dallas a nice surprise. That’s mainly what I meant to convey in this article – along with the fact that there are some truly great musicians here.
Thanks for you comments! Where do you like to go? How do you define “hard core?”
Thank you so much for posting this! The descriptions you provided were so vivid and inviting it made me feel as if I were there already. I’ve been looking for a good place to take my guy for a surprise date night. He used to be a nationally ranked trumpet player and I know Jazz music means more to him than I could adequately express. We’re currently long distance so when we do find time together we try and make it special. This was so perfect, thank you again for posting.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving your comments. I’m sure you’d have a great time at any of these places; though some are more “date” like than others. Let me know when you go!
SOHO Food and Jazz in Addison is great. Intimate, good drinks, good performers. Freddie Jones is known to frequent the place sometimes…watching him play two trumpets at one time was always cool.
Not sure if Terilli’s is still open in Lower Greenville, but that place was always top notch.
Terilli’s has reopened and it’s really nice. I always forget about Soho because it’s a bit out of the way for me. Great place though.
My husband would love this! I’ve done a lot of Jazz hopping in Newport Rhode Island and also the Jazz fest in New Orleans. Never been to Dallas.
But we’re returning to NOLA and will hit some jazz clubs there, also with my kids.
Marina, I am working on a more indepth version of this story, so check back. Dallas is blessed with many amazing musicians, not only jazz, but many of them also play jazz. 🙂
Wow Penny the new site is awesome. Also I had no idea there were this many places to find jazz in Dallas. Your images are great partial to B&W
These look great — especially those sculpted chocolates at Chocolate Secrets. Jazz and chocolates — who can go wrong?
Lots of people seem to feel the same. 🙂
Never even thought to look into the jazz scene when I visited Dallas last fall, now I’ll know better!
The north Texas area as some of the best schools for musicians anywhere in the country, hence, great music and great jazz. 😉
Never would’ve thought that Dallas had a thriving jazz scene, but it makes sense. Dallas is a great city!
what fun places!!
I’m sad to admit that I’m a Chicagoan who isn’t fond of jazz (and a former clarinet player, to boot!). It’s a shame because Chicago has so many great places with a lot of character that are known as Jazz bars. Especially timely with the release of Great Gatsby, and excellent pictures, Penny.
Great slice of Dallas night life! I’ll save the good info to have in one spot look-up….
Paula, thanks and glad you found it helpful!