Thursday, January 1st, 2009
Spotlight
Stage Presence
A world-class jazz joint has been bringing hot tunes to Boston for almost 20 years. By Matthew Robinson
Warm candlelight reflecting off dark wood tables and floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the Charles River and Harvard University set a scene perfect for conversation, but the man with the burnished brass horn stepping onstage will do all the talking. A story, told in uplifting yet mournful tones, capti- vates the audience—no small feat, as many among them know a good tune and perfect technique when they hear them.
Such is the nightly scene at Scullers Jazz Club (scull- ersjazz.com), the award-winning listening room that has hosted great performances in Boston for almost 20 years.
From Mose Allison to Cassandra Wilson, masters of jazz young and old have made a point to stop at Scullers when- ever they are in the area. Some of them—including trumpeter Chris Botti (who calls Scullers one of the greatest jazz clubs in America), vocalist Norah Jones, and pianists Jamie Cullum and Diana Krall—have made their Boston debuts here.
While it is the emphasis, jazz isn’t the only genre that makes its way to the stage at Scullers. “The vision for the club was to give people the opportunity to see a wide range of entertainment,” says Fred Taylor, Scullers’ enter- tainment director. He mentions Latin and world music stars like Eddie Palmieri and Flora Purim, and American R&B and blues greats like James Cotton and The Manhattans who regularly visit the club. “Because of the diversity of artists and our desire to stay on the cutting edge, the club has kept both current and legendary,” he says.
In addition to winning numer- ous “Best of” awards from local and national media outlets, Scullers is a fan favorite for its intimacy, sight lines, acoustics, food and special show packages (including trips to jazz festivals around the world). Musicians, meanwhile, applaud the audience’s knowledge and understanding of the tunes.
“There’s a real respect for the music,” says pianist Brad Mehldau, while jazz matron Marian McPartland has testified that, “Scullers is one of the best and most swinging jazz clubs I’ve ever known.”
In an entertainment landscape dominated by disposable celebri- ties and fickle tastes, it is rare for any venue—let alone one featuring a niche sound like jazz—to still be going strong after two decades. Despite such trends, Scullers con- tinues to bring fans from around the world to bask in the warm glow of great performers night after night.
