For aficionados of the genre, put a pilgrimage to these concert halls, clubs and historic jazz landmarks on their musical must-do list.
PDX Jazz Festival and Vanport Jazz Festival – Portland, Oregon
- Held for 11 days in February, the PDX Jazz Festival celebrates Black History Month with more than 100 free and ticketed events across various venues.
- Features performances by local, emerging, and established artists.
- The Vanport Jazz Festival, held in August, honors Portland’s rich jazz legacy at the historic site of a flood that displaced a Black neighborhood.
Detroit Jazz Festival – Detroit, Michigan
- Takes place over Labor Day weekend in early September and is one of the largest free-admission jazz festivals in the world.
- Past performers include legendary artists like Dave Brubeck, Chick Corea, Paquito D’Rivera, and The Manhattan Transfer.
- Offers stunning views of the Detroit skyline from stages at Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza.
Preservation Hall – New Orleans, Louisiana
- Home to the world-famous Preservation Hall Jazz Band, playing for over 50 years.
- Offers general admission seating or reserved tables for an intimate experience.
Green Mill Jazz Club – Chicago, Illinois
- A historic speakeasy frequented by Al Capone and legendary performers like Billie Holiday.
- Hosts nightly jazz performances covering various subgenres.
SFJAZZ Center – San Francisco, California
- Organizes the San Francisco Jazz Festival and educational programs.
- Features concerts in diverse jazz styles and performances by the SFJAZZ Collective.
Blues Alley – Washington, D.C.
- Oldest continuously operating jazz supper club in the USA.
- Showcases top talent in an intimate, historic setting seven nights a week.
Jazz music has always lent itself to a live platform, and there’s no shortage of places in the USA to watch a show