Boston is a fantastic hub for live jazz music in its own right ranking up there with the best. With dozens of music venues having finally reopened their doors over the last year, Boston is once again offering prime experiences for jazz lovers. From hole-in-the-wall bars to historic jazz clubs and casual restaurants, Beantown has hosted a number of jazz greats on the touring circuit in addition to countless talented locals and newcomers. Most local neighborhoods within Boston proper and Cambridge are densely packed and easily walkable, so it’s easy to check out several nearby venues in a single sweep to find the experience you’re looking for, or see everything the city has to offer.
WALLY’S JAZZ CAFE
Wally’s Jazz Cafe in Back Bay is open seven nights a week, charges no cover, and offers live music 365 days a year. Known as a “training ground” for celebrated jazz musicians, Wally’s hosts resident bands who play numerous jazz styles each night. It’s a great place to hear Berklee alums and professors play killer jam sessions, though don’t be surprised if you see the occasional legend stop by to join a band and blow off the roof.
SCULLER’S JAZZ CLUB
Just over the Charles River in the Doubletree Hotel is the long-standing Sculler’s Jazz Club. Voted “Boston’s #1 Jazz Club” by Boston Magazine, Sculler’s showcased everything from classic to Latin and contemporary jazz. Their ticketed events feature artists from touring bands and solo acts, as well as local favorites.
BEAT BREW HALL
For those who want more of a casual vibe, check out Beat Brew Hall. A contemporary honky tonk with a modern twist, this beer hall in a restaurant/bar setting sits in the heart of Harvard Square, and offers jazz and other live music events all year round in a friendly, lively atmosphere.
THE MAD MONKFISH
While you are in Cambridge, hop over to Central Square for a delightful combination of sushi and jazz at The Mad Monkfish. On the stage in their Jazz Baroness Room, the restaurant really comes to life from Thursday to Sunday night when it hosts some of the city’s top jazz performers.
THE BEEHIVE
The Beehive in downtown Boston offers a smaller cabaret-like setting for all your jazz needs. Without a cover charge, local patrons and tourists alike flock to the Beehive for a range of eclectic music and funky art, as well as signature cocktails and Middle Eastern-inspired food.
THE BEBOP
Another stop on the Boston jazz circuit, The Bebop puts on an energetic show every night of the week in Back Bay. In the midst of several of Boston’s many colleges, The Bebop’s cafe setting is perfect for their many live jazz and bluegrass events.
Boston Jazz Calendar
- Boston Public Library
- Recurring daily
GBH offers a wide variety of in-person and virtual events. From live music recordings, lectures and screenings to our virtual Book Club, tasting events and more, stay connected to our community. Whatever you’re…
- Coquette
- Recurring weekly on Saturday
Elevate your weekends with a luxurious Jazz Brunch at Coquette. Every Saturday from 12 PM to 3 PM, enjoy the smooth sounds of the Alex Minasian Trio while indulging in the best brunch in Boston.
A place where flavor and sound are beautifully intertwined, Lou’s celebrates the classics—where stiff martinis meet stronger conversation and every evening invites you to linger just a little longer. On Saturday…
- Rochambeau
- Recurring weekly on Sunday
Step into a Sunday symphony at Rochambeau! Let jazz melodies serenade your brunch as you savor French delights and sip on expertly crafted cocktails. Our Parisian-inspired menu will elevate your weekend, accompanied by…
- Rosa y Marigold
- Recurring weekly on Sunday
Join us for Sunday Jazz brunch from 11:30 AM- 1 :30PM, featuring live Jazz by Annie and the Fur Trappers. A relaxed start to your day!
- The Beehive Restaurant
- Recurring weekly on Sunday
Bruce Bears and band are our Sunday night heroes of the blues! Bruce Bears has been at the center of the international blues scene for decades. His expert treatment of the keyboards have been along side rhe most famous…
- Rosa y Marigold
- Recurring weekly on Wednesday
Live Jazz Night Wednesday nights from 6:30-8:30 PM featuring the Matthew Berlin Trio. Settle in for dinner while smooth sounds fill the room!
- Kestra - Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport
- Recurring weekly on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Join us for the new Jazz Lounge at Kestra Music Series. The music infused event takes place every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at Kestra Restaurant from 7 PM - 10PM and includes a lively and entertaining roster of…
- The Fed - The Langham, Boston
- Recurring weekly on Friday
Elevate your Friday nights. Every Friday from 6 PM to 9 PM, enjoy live jazz from talented musicians while sipping handcrafted cocktails and savoring delicious bites. Whether you’re a jazz lover or just seeking a stylish…
- Grana - The Langham, Boston
- Recurring weekly on Friday
Join us every Friday from 6PM to 9PM and enjoy live jazz from talented musicians while sipping handcrafted cocktails and savoring delicious bites.
- Twelfth Baptist Church, Boston
Join velvet-voiced singer Jonathan Gramling to discover the threads that link reggae, gospel, soul, and jazz. With a lineup of remixes, mashups, originals, and genre-bending covers, this group deftly and joyfully weaves…
- Berklee Performance Center
With a warm, honeyed alto and a folk-inflected jazz band, Lizz Wright creates original songs and covers that reflect the cultural fabric of America, inviting audiences into a musical heartland that makes anyone feel at…
- Somerville Theatre
Across his 54-year career, 3-time GRAMMY® winner John Scofield has never stopped pushing jazz forward. With Electrospective, Scofield revisits his classic groove-based favorites with the seasoned perspective of…
- First Church, Roxbury
Powerhouse vocalist Nadia Washington and her longstanding Quartet share an afternoon of jazzy holiday favorites. Warm up your December as they lend their well-honed partnership to reimagined Christmas classics and other…
- Berklee Performance Center
Pianist Emmet Cohen has a gift—rare in any era—for making a concert ticket feel like a party invitation. His widely beloved Live from Emmet's Place webcasts, filmed in his Harlem apartment, welcomed millions to jazz with…
- First Church, Roxbury
When spoken word and jazz unite, when voice and saxophone speak in dialogue and as one: what happens? An afternoon of alchemical artistry. Amanda Shea—an artist at the intersection of poetry, music, social justice, and…
- Multicultural Arts Center
Experience the alchemy that unfolds when traditional and contemporary Brazilian music styles meet jazz in this must-see performance by the Fernando Brandão Quartet. Choros, bossas, sambas, and more are the canvas for…
- Museum of Science's Public Science Common
Hailed as "a living legend" by The New Yorker, Fred Hersch and his trio move between stillness and surprise, luminous lyricism and fearless exploration—opening the Jazz Festival at the Museum of Science's extraordinary…
- Museum of Science's Public Science Common
Bandleader, bassist, and composer Endea Owens draws from a vibrant community of New York jazz musicians who bring soul jazz warmth and irresistible hard bop grooves to every show—a band that offers everyone a seat at the…
- Twelfth Baptist Church
Gregory Groover's music is rooted in the idea of community, connectedness, and, as he put it in an interview, "the idea that sound could move people closer to something greater than themselves." Groover, whose previous…