Regattabar

Let me be the first to say, I'm not a hard core Jazz aficionado. It started with a friend sharing Postmodern Jukebox almost 4 years ago. While I didn't like every cover they put out, I kept watching. In September of 2016 they debuted a new cover of Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up". The featured singer was a Swedish national treasure, jazz multi-instrumentalist Gunhild Carling. I was blown away by her energy, and being able to play so any different musical Instruments, and sing to boot. Weeks later, she was featured again, covering Madonna's "Material Girl", singing, playing trombone, and tap dancing. I was hooked, and started following her and her equally talented family shortly thereafter. While most of her touring was elsewhere in the world, she did occasionally have dates in the United States. I can't travel far for a variety of reasons, so even going to New York where she performed most frequently was out. Only something close to the South Shore area was feasible. With her increased fame from her PMJ covers, as well as her weekly stream from her former residence in Stockomollan, Sweden, she began to perform more frequently in the US. In the summer of 2018 she announced a variety of tour dates for the middle of November. One of those dates was the 14th, at Regattabar in Cambridge, located in the Charles Hotel. I ordered a ticket a couple months in advance, the pricing wasn't bad. Other than evening commuter traffic going into and out of Boston, it wasn't hard to get to. It took about an hour to get there from the South Shore. If you plan on coming here, use Google Maps to get directions and input the time you plan on leaving, that way you will get an accurate gauge of how long it will take to get here. Parking was very easy, it was in the Charles Hotel's own parking garage, Regattabar will validate your ticket for a buck or two off. For parking, drive all the way around the garage until you find the elevators, there seemed to be ample spaces right around there. I got there early, doors actually opened 1/4 of 7 for the 7:30 showtime. Seating is randomly assigned, I guess according to when you bought your ticket, so I had a good seat in the front row to the left of the stage. It's a big room, seating take up about a 1/3 of it around the stage area, behind it is an open floor for dancing. The waiter greeted me almost right away, and I ordered a drink. I will say the drink seemed to have like a lead or graphite taste to it, but was passable. The show started right on time, Ms. Carling was backed up by New York based musicians Dave Post on Bass, Matt Baker on Piano, and Daniel Glass on drums. Let me tell you, if you have never seen Gunhild perform in person, go do it already. She is an amazing, friendly performer. I knew she would be better to see in person, but I was totally blown away. She did an hour and a half set that night. Overall, this was my first time at a Jazz club, and it was a positive experience. The size of the room is great, with windows to look outside over-viewing Bennett St. The acoustics of the room were fantastic, the volume of the mics wasn't too loud, it wasn't too hot or too cold either. The lighting in the room set the mood well. Other than the drink issue, the chairs at the tables were a tad uncomfortable. Not much cushioning, and too upright for me. Other than that, a very enjoyable experience. 7/4/2019 EDIT: I went to Regattabar on 6/20 to see Gunhild Carling perform again, simply amazing. Other than that, I did order a drink again, this time it didn't taste funny. The chairs are the same uncomfortable ones from last time. Even still, I had a front row seat, the earlier you buy a ticket, the better the seat you get.

It's a frustrating place to hear good music. Why can't the people of Cambridge be accommodating? So many make-believe rules. Parking, bicycling, table assignments written in stone.... They assign you a table, unknown to you, before you get to the concert door. We met another couple and wanted to sit with them but the hostess forbid it. We should have bought tickets together but we weren't sure of our schedules. All 4 of us were early and neither of our tables, which hold 4 people had the other two seats taken. A small accommodation would have made all the deference. It put a damper on the night. The best part of which was the great snow fall we were treated to when we got outside.

The other big jazz club in Boston. Musical acts are often world famous and the club is small enough to feel cozy. If you plan on drinking get your order in as early as possible because they only ever have one bartender who works like a madman for the first hour. If the house if full you might have to wait 30+ minutes for your jazzy cocktail. Better yet, buy a drink from one of the bars downstairs and bring it with you. Your table neighbors will be green with envy.

Four stars because bookings aren't as high profile as they used to be here and there are far fewer Fri-Sat night performances than they used to. They've had to economize with more midweek performances. But I just have to say that the reviews here about service, drinks, food and seating with strangers are way, way, way wide of the mark. What is wrong with you people? You come here for a 75-90 minute jazz set. Jazz clubs are for serious and attentive listening. You don't come to get wined and dined. Get there early to order drinks and food. But you don't want wait staff weaving through crammed tables and taking orders during a performance at this intimate, quiet venue where the music is mostly acoustic. It's very disruptive. Gee, my usual beef with jazz clubs, for instance in NYC, is charging covers + drink minimums, with continued pressure on the drinks. And you don't go to a jazz club to eat food. I've been here over a hundred times and it's to get my jazz set in. That's it. And being seated alone? Go to legit jazz clubs and you never, as a couple, get your own table. I've been to tons. Tables are always treated like rows at a concert and crammed together to maximize ticket availability/sales. You are sat sequentially, by ticket order. This is common practice. What a bunch of numnuts on here. Jazz clubs are for listening. If you want food and drinks, go to Henrietta's Table (in same hotel) before your set.

It is great to have a nice place in Boston to listen to live Jazz. The bring some good performers here are there, but not as regularly as other venues. The low ceiling at the stage makes for poor acoustics. There are a few dead sound zones , so you must buy your tickets early to get the better view / sound. Food selection leaves a lot to be desired.