IS THE DIRTY DOG JAZZ CAFÉ THE BEST JAZZ CLUB IN THE WORLD?
I will keep asking this question until someone tells me that maybe it isn’t, and why.
I haven’t heard any jazz artists say that this club isn’t one of the very best venues in the world. I think it would be hard to beat the gang at the Dirty Dog and the jazz club they have built.
I get around Detroit listening to music, and Detroit has good choices of places to hear some jazz. Most of the time I am at the Dirty Dog taking pictures. This has given me a chance to listen to out of town artists like Freda Payne and well traveled local artists like Ralphe Armstrong. Sometimes world travelers like Freda and Ralphe talk about their favorite places. They talk about how they are treated, the respect of the audience, the sound in the room and the prestige of playing a first class club. When all is said and done, they often end up saying one club that makes the effort to accommodate the musician as well as the customer is the place they are both playing this week, the Dirty Dog Jazz Café. At the Dirty Dog they also get a respectful audience and some of the best food in town in their own green room.
The Dirty Dog Jazz Café is an intimate jazz club that serves really good food. It has been promoted mainly through word of mouth and the proclamations of others. The word is out that this place makes an honest effort to give jazz artists and their fans a great place to come together. Friends tell friends, and Detroit has a way of finding out about anything that is a cut above.
PRAISE FOR A REALLY GOOD LOCAL JAZZ CLUB
Every time Ralphe Armstrong comes to the Dirty Dog Jazz Café he reminds us that we can have something really good in our backyard. Sometimes you have to go away and come back to appreciate what you have.
THE WORLDLY RALPHE ARMSTRONG
I never thought about this idea until one night the well traveled Ralphe Armstrong offhandedly asked the question, “Has anyone been in a better jazz club in their life?”
No one stood up and challenged him. Truthfully, there are few people who would stand up and challenge Ralphe. Since then, Ralphe rarely appears at the Dirty Dog without making this claim. He is not alone. many artists pause to remind us how remarkable this venue is, and when they do they don’t hold back. I started listening to these artists when they praised the club.
SOME REASONS THAT THE DIRTY DOG IS SO ADMIRED:
RESPECT FOR THE MUSIC The club is a place that is run almost entirely to honor the music and the musicians.. The Dog has paid attention to those things that allow the music to live. There is a great sound system with a sound engineer on staff. The Dog is a place with an openness to new ideas and encourages musicians to stretch their craft. Jazz is respected at the Dog.
RESPECT FOR THE ARTISTS What I have heard from visiting artists is that the Dirty Dog is an oasis of respect. Respect pours over musicians from the moment they enter the club. The Dirty Dog is a place where jazz thrives because Gretchen, the management and the audience think that the music deserves to be heard. Finally, where else do artists get four day gigs?
RESPECT FOR THE AUDIENCE It is an intimate space small enough to offer proximity to the action. Jazz is often a spontaneous, evolving relationship that is sometimes sublimely harmonious, often gleeful and sometimes raucous. Patrons can witness the fleeting glance and the startled smile between players. Jazz can be at its most engaging when you can experience that process unfolding with your eyes as well as your ears.
AND A FEW MORE REASONS THAT CLINCH IT FOR THE DIRTY DOG
SOME REALLY GOOD FOOD AND A GREAT BAR The Dog has some really good food and a great bar for the customers
THE GREEN ROOM AT THE DIRTY DOG JAZZ CAFÉ The same great food and drink is served in a beautiful green room reserved for the artists.
BONUS POINTS FOR:
Chef Andre Neimanus, Manager / Director of jazz Willie Jones, the world’s most lovable bartender Carl and the amazing staff with all their good cheer and smiles.
EXTRA BONUS POINTS:
The classiest proprietor in all of jazzdom, Gretchen Valade.
THIS WEEK GET OUT AND LISTEN TO SOME LIVE MUSIC
Visit the Dirty Dog and see for yourselves how the the artists are treated, the respect of the audience, the sound in the room and the prestige of being in a first class club. When all is said and done, you may add your voice in saying that the one club that makes the effort to accommodate the musician as well as the customer is the Dirty Dog.
ALL THIS LEAVES ME WITH THE BURNING QUESTION, COULD THE DIRTY DOG JAZZ CAFÉ POSSIBLY BE “THE BEST JAZZ CLUB IN THE WORLD?” AND WHY NOT?
We will need more information to really know the answer, so, please think about it and after you have spent some at the Dog, let us know.
John Osler
THIS WEEK THE DIRTY DOG WILL PRESENT A PRETTY GOOD CASE THAT IT IS A TRULY GREAT JAZZ CLUB
October 10, October 11
RALPHE ARMSTRONG
A wondrous spirit, Ralphe Armstrong will bring a good argument that Detroit’s jazz is on the rise. Ralphe is a true champion of Detroit and of its greatest export, its music.
October 12 – October 13
FREDA PAYNE
The multi-talented Freda Payne is best known for her singing career, yet she has also performed in musicals and acted in movies over the years. Freda was born in Detroit, Michigan, Payne developed an appreciation of music at an early age (due to such sultry jazz singers as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Billie Holiday). She will bring much needed heat to a Michigan fall.
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