As a student at UCSB, an appreciation for live music is one I know I don’t have to convince my peers to cultivate. With an effervescent and constantly evolving band culture, the residents of Isla Vista are constantly reminded of all the talent (or occasional lack thereof) in our backyards, whether we like it or not. Why then is it that the patrons of downtown’s swanky jazz clubs have significantly more grey hairs than an average Trigo mosh pit?
Aside from the 21 years of age thing, perhaps it is due to the aspect of travel—after all, why drive for it if it’s happening two houses over? I think it is more than that, however. The screeching covers of The Smiths and moody renditions of Radiohead are all fine and well, but they can never quite capture the same effect for me. I am convinced that people under the age of 45 have written the entire genre off.
I understand. I was once firmly entrenched in the idea that live music was most enjoyable if I could sing along. Then, a few years ago, I was visiting a friend at NYU who took me to Birdland, an iconic fixture of Midtown Manhattan and the catalyst for a new perspective. At a moodily lit table in the back of the room, swathed in shadow and swaying to the soulful rhythm, I discovered a deep appreciation for the saxophone.Â
We left, and I spent the rest of the trip chasing that same feeling in Spotify discographies of the greats, from John Coltrane to Miles Davis, and finding it elusive. A year later, with a good friend who let me crash on her couch in Paris, I stumbled into Caveau de la Huchette (where scenes from La La Land were filmed). This time, the dim room was full of people my age, smiling and dancing, crowding around a raised platform towards the back of the basement. The energy was unmatched—a warm, softly lit excitement—something that I had never experienced before. And I wasn’t terrified of being struck down by a stray crowdsurfer, which was a plus.
Since coming back to Santa Barbara, I have searched for that same spirit in the jazz clubs on State Street, but have found one thing missing—you! In a somewhat self-serving way, I give you a list of my favorite places that capture the essence of jazz—dark, moody, fun, swanky, and most of all, with great acoustics.Â
SoHo Restaurant and Music Club
This might already be known to you as a favorite venue of Indie Rock bands passing through, and maybe you were also there last year for Sunroom, but SoHo boasts a decent amount of jazz concerts as well. For example, on January 21st, UCSB Arts and Lectures is hosting Listening to Jazz with Jon Nathan and UCSB Jazz Ensemble, an evening dedicated to the smooth stylings of Coltrane and Davis. UCSB Arts and Lectures is also putting on Terence Blanchard and Ravi Coltrane Miles Davis and John Coltrane Centennial at the Granada on the 27th, celebrating the greats.
The Red Piano
Located at 519 State Street, this red brick joint is in the heart of the city and at your disposal, with live music seven nights a week and places to enjoy the music inside and outside. Sadly, this is one I have only ever experienced from the outside, as it is 21+, and in their words, no exceptions. Even from the street, though, the vibrant atmosphere spills out. The Imperial in Goleta is also reported to be a hole-in-the-wall live music experience with great drinks and even better blues.Â
The Grand
In the heart of Santa Barbara’s Theatre Arts District and right next to the Granada Theatre comes a new arrival to the SB jazz scene. The Grand on State is a promising melange of fine dining and soulful strains in a more elevated space. The perfect date night spot or stop after a show at the theatre, I am excited to see what this new addition has in store for us.
Whether or not you think jazz might be “your thing,” I think it’s something everyone should try once. And it doesn’t count if you heard it at your high school in the 11th grade and decided it wasn’t for you. From the atmosphere to the actual music itself, it is a favorite of mine in the live music genre. If anything, it is the perfect excuse to get outside of Goleta, do your hair, and put on some dancing shoes. In a town that feels so quintessentially the surfer-bum college experience, sometimes it’s important to get away and realize that there is so much more to Santa Barbara and the rest of the world.
Either way, I hope to see you there, and happy exploring!