Old Jazz Clubs in Houston

The Satellite
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My clubbing days are long ago, but I still remember fondly some jazz clubs I used to frequent back in the day.

Eldorado Ballroom. Elgin St. Historic Houston jazz venue. Sam “Lightning” Hopkins, Ray Charles, B.B. King. Saw Bubbha Thomas and the Lightmen there.

St. Michel, Richmond Ave. Used to go see Horace Grigsby. I wouldn’t leave until he sang Kansas City, Hey, Hey, Hey.

Cody’s in Montrose. On the roof of a building in Montrose. I saw Kirk Whalen’s band play. Best view of downtown from a bar in the city. Definitely a date place. Went many times.

Gallant Knight on Holcombe. Sammy was the headliner. Sweaty, high energy mix of college kids, med students and jazz enthusiasts.

White House Motel on South Main. The Houston Jazz Society played there, I think on Mondays. I buddy of mine told me about it. My first reaction was “It’s on South Main, is it safe?” South Main St. was seedy back in the day.

Maybe I’m old but Houston doesn’t seem to have the jazz scene it once had.

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Some great venues and music. Also, thanks for listing St. Michel, been driving my crazy trying to remember the name of that place!

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Cody’s later became Scott Gertner’s. Building has been torn down for years but I think Scott Gertner has another place now on Memorial.

Another building I think is gone, my fraternity had a house a block away and I think the Chi Omega house was pretty much around the corner at the time. I remember when Sammy had his own place in 2016 Main. His renditions of Purple Rain were memorable.

I forget there was one on Montrose by the library (which is also closed) that I can’t think of the name of right now, anyone know what I’m talking about? Was it the Black Lab? Enjoyed there.

Also enjoyed Red Cat Jazz Cafe when it was downtown, I think on Prarie. Just loved that building vibe. I saw its now on McGowen or something.

More recently if you want Jazz, there’s Doc’s on Montrose in the old Tower Theater which I enjoyed. Caffvino on Heights (coffee & wine bar) has a jazz night on Thursdays, I saw. and Moth (mothpresents.com) has one but I think they just renamed it notajazznight or something to say it is more than Jazz. Haven’t been there and only been to Caffvino for something else but both looked worth checking out.

I’m not particularly a Jazz fan but enjoy it from time to time. As you say your clubbing days are long gone, maybe try Doc’s for dinner and all on a special night and or that Caffvino as it is a small cozy place and not some nightclub, get out and enjoy what Houston has to offer. I’m sure there are others too.

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Yes, it was the Black Lab. Great place to hang out. Hated to see it go!

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You must be a Pike. The Tekes had a house on Dorrington also in the 1960s.

Yes and had the oversized chess board outside.

Good vibe at the Red Cat.

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Will Ferrell Anchorman GIF

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Nope, Sammy. Had house on Dorrington in like 94-95. I want to say the A Chi Omega also was on Dorrington that year but I forget.

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Lots of great Friday keggers there backin the late 60’s, early 70’s.

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The Lab is gone? Damn. That sucks. Had many a pint there. Mucky Duck was another good hangout. Alabama Ale House with Rudy T at the bar was always interesting. And of course my hangout, the Turtle Club down in Clear Lake.

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Mucky Duck is still around. Turtle Club closed like 10 years ago.

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The Duck is still doing well. They’ve been hurt a bit by both Heights Theater and WOMH but still have some very good shows. Plus a staunch group of artists who stay loyal to Rusty.

Excellent food as well!

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To keep the trip down memory lane going, here are a few Rock and Roll venues back In the day.

Liberty Hall. On Chenevert St. First, and not the last time I saw Bruce Springsteen. He loved coming to Houston and Texas in general. He had a huge fan base here before he rocketed to stardom.

Rockefeller’s on Washington Ave. I’ve seen so many acts at Rockefeller’s I’ve lost count. I loved the venue, but parking was always a disaster.

Fitzgerald’s on White Oak Dr. Underrated venue. Saw Stevie Ray Vaughan, Mick Taylor and ZZ Top among others.

Continental Club on Main St. I was a fan of Monte Warden from Austin and saw him at the Continental Club probably in the 1980s or 1990s. Good venue and it is still around.

Club 6400 on Richmond Ave. I remember seeing Cheap Trick there and I know I saw others, I just can’t remember anything special.

Hofheinz Pavilion. Yes, that Hofheinz Pavilion. Did you know Hofheinz Pavilion was the venue for a former Beatle? George Harrison played at HP in 1974, when he was on tour with Ravi Shankar.

The huge acts of the day played at Sam Houston Coliseum, The Music Hall, The Summit, aka Compaq Center, now known as Lakewood Church, Cynthia Woods Pavilion, the Astrodome, even Rice Stadium, where I saw Elton John and Billy Joel in concert.

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Yup. I remember when Rick Knapp sold “Rick’s Turtle Club” to Lance Stephens. Then it became Lance’s Turtle Club. Also remember when Band on the Lake was done at the old Hilton on Sunday afternoons.

Dayem. I’ve gotten old.

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Catacombs
La Maison
The Living Eye
The Cellar

I loved them all! Here is a pretty good article from 2011 about the past Houston music scene.

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Continental & Rockefeller’s are still around. Not sure if Rockefellers is a bit more of a rental hall than venue these days or what.

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Rockefeller’s is rental.

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I think its sorta both these days as they do have a number of shows booked but could be an outside promoter booking the shows. https://www.rockefellershouston.com/

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Scott Gertner died last year

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Well there’s a bar with his name attached still on Memorial. I do remember reading he died though, now that you mention it.

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