Where does a jazz singer and aficionado like Kathleen Bertrand go to get an earful in Atlanta? In 2011, the answer is more places than ever.
"There's a lot of live music happening in Atlanta and jazz is part of it and that's a good thing, because that hasn't always been the case," said Bertrand, who's become a fixture here and at jazz festivals around the globe. She likes Churchill Grounds, which she calls Atlanta's jazz "anchor" and listening to the jazz ensembles, orchestras and smaller bands from Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University.
Sure, Atlanta is probably better known for hip-hop than having a vibrant jazz culture, but if you want to hear good sounds there are places around the city to experience jazz, whether it's at the Georgia Aquarium or at jazz night at a local hotel.
"Everybody wants to flock to what the media has built (with hip-hop and rap artists) but we have Grammy-nominated and awarded jazz musicians in this town and people don't know they exist," said Carl Anthony, host of "Serenade to the City" radio program on Jazz 91.9 WCLK.
So, whether you like your jazz straight ahead, contemporary or fused, you can probably find something to suit your musical palate.
Here's a sampling of places -- some old and some new -- to tickle your jazz senses.
Clubs and restaurants:
Churchill Grounds
660 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta, Ga.
www.churchillgrounds.com
Cafe 290
290 Hilderbrand Drive N.E., Sandy Springs, Ga.
www.cafe290atlanta.com
Close Up 2 Jazz Club
6288 Old Dixie Highway (in the Clarion Hotel Atlanta Airport South), Jonesboro, Ga.
Live jazz begins at 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. No cover.
www.closeup2jazz.com
Acoustix Jazz Restaurant and Lounge
840 Marietta St., Atlanta, Ga. 30318
www.acoustixjazz.com
Studio 281
281 Peters St. S.W., Atlanta, Ga.
www.studio281.com
Hotels and other locales:
Ritz-Carlton Atlanta
Jerry Lambert Trio performs traditional jazz from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday in the Atlanta Grill.
181 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta, Ga. 30303
Georgia Aquarium
Want to hear jazz in a unique venue? Check out "Jazz Journeys" every Friday through Sept. 30. General admission tickets include experiencing the live jazz in the atrium as well as admission into all the galleries.
Tickets are $24.95 for adults; $18.95 for children ages 3 to 12; and $20.95 for senior citizens. Annual pass members are free.
www.georgiaaquarium.org
The Mansion on Peachtree
The hotel has a weekly music program on Saturdays that is predominately jazz. A regular performer is Francine Reed, who sings jazz, blues, R&B and gospel.
Tony Rich performs at 9 p.m. Saturday in The Mansion lounge. No cover.
Loews Atlanta Hotel
Live From Loews jazz series on the first Thursday of each month. The series is free.
Jeff Lorber performs at 8 p.m. Aug. 4.
1065 Peachtree Rd. N.W., Atlanta, Ga. 30309
Rialto Center for the Arts
The center hosts a variety of music and is worth checking out for jazz concerts.
80 Forsyth Street N.W., Atlanta, GA 30303
www.rialtocenter.org
Worth saving your money to go see:
The Rialto Center for the Arts will be the scene of a New Orleans jazz event called "A Night In Treme – The Musical Majesty of New Orleans" at 8 p.m. Oct. 22. The event is the 2011-2012 series opener and will feature Kermit Ruffins, Soul Rebels Brass Band, Donald Harrison Jr. and Glen David Andrews.
Tickets are $42 to $68. www.rialtocenter.org
Taste of local performers:
Kathleen Bertrand
Bertrand has a voice that's been heard around the world from performing with Roy Ayers to jazz festivals in Switzerland and Germany. A native of Atlanta, Bertrand's fifth CD, "Katharsis," was released earlier on June 7.
Sarah Belladae
Sarah Belladae's first CD project, "Aquarius," will be released this fall. The project's first single, "Love Superhero," is already getting airplay. The Chicago-born singer performs jazz fusion and can be heard at 2 p.m. Saturday at WRFG-FM's Birthday Block Party in Little Five Points. The event is free.
Joey Sommerville
The Atlanta-based trumpeteer got his start in the Baptist church. His new CD, "The Get Down Club," comes out on Aug. 2. He plays mostly out-of-town gigs. He next performs in Atlanta at 8 p.m. Saturday at Sheraton Downtown Hotel, 165 Courtland St. N.E. during Hank Stewart's 10th annual Annual White Linen -- "Five Men On A Stool Reunion Show."
Theresa Hightower
Hightower has entertained jazz and blues fans for years. She is currently playing at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead.
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