Has anybody been to the House of Blues and Jazz on Maoming lately? I was there earlier this year and they had a fantastic New York band (forgot the name..), but when I was there again a few months ago the new band at the time was rather dull and uninspired,
Who's playing now and how are they? Anybody been there recently? Want to take a visitor there, but only if it's a good band.
Thanks!

Or any other club to recommend with good jazz/blues?

Cotton Club was kitty corner to the american consulate on Huai Hai. Don't know if it's still there. Also the Peace Hotel used to have great jazz. There's a great jazz place in Xintiande. Lots of interesting sound floating around there. And I think that place in xu jia hui park has a band sometimes that may be a little different. Just don't be in a hurry to go in until you hear the band a little.

Cotton Club is still there. It is usually OK. Depends who is there. There is sually this longhaired guy there who plays electric guitar. He is OK, but kind of dull (actually I just don't like electric guitar jazz) and he tends to drown everyone else out.

The Peace Hotel is best avoided. I only went once but the band was a joke. Amazingly lethargic and dull. The clarinet was completely out of tune and it seemed none of them noticed. And given that they are all old geezers and playing in the Peace Hotel you would think they would do a slightly Shanghai oriented repotoire (maybe a few of those old Shanghai cabaret tunes like "Rose Rose I love you" etc.), but they don't. My sister has played in much better bands.

And besides the lame band the bar staff in the Peace Hotel are incompetent and arrogant.

There are no paper towels in the bathrooms either. In the words of the cleaner, Peace Hotel policy is not to supply guests with any means of drying their hands.

The decor is kind of cool though.

Definiely go to House of Blues & Jazz. Current band is excellent - Sam Hooper Group, a 3-piece blues-based band from US/Japan. I'll be there a few nights later this week. Sam's website seems to be offline, but try a search on his name to get some info.

JZ Club on the west end of FuXing Rd is nice. The house band were really good on a Friday/Saturday.
I'm not a big jazz listener but I did enjoy it.

Elephant man is right, the current band is stunning. Blues tinged with a healthy dollop of rock and a pleasant splattering of funk. Aso, check out A Fistful of Laowai who are playing at the british bulldog pub tomorrow night (sat 15th) these guys play hard blues and they rock!

in my opnion, Jazz club is quite good. Havent visit he new band at Blues and Jazz on Maoming lu yet. CJW at the bund center and xintiandi is quite nice. Peace hotel band not my type.

monkey wrote:Elephant man is right, the current band is stunning. Blues tinged with a healthy dollop of rock and a pleasant splattering of funk. Aso, check out A Fistful of Laowai who are playing at the british bulldog pub tomorrow night (sat 15th) these guys play hard blues and they rock!

I was at the Bulldog on night when the lads (fistfull of ÀÏÍâ) were playing. I like the bass players "i don't give a rats arse" attitude, with his sandles and black skin tight shirts!

naaa, good night, but your typical pub-rock fare - makes it worthwhile when you have a group of blind , pissed up kiwis & Aussies screaming every 2 mins "ACCA DACCA....Highway to Heeeeeeeeeeeeellllllll- aaaa!"

Tops!

Elephant Man has been swinging his trunk down at HoBJ four nights this week, until 1am and beyond. If you like good music, you really must get down there to see this great band - Sam Hooper and his merry men will be playing there until X'mas. Unfortunately I'm off to US today, but hope to get back to SH soon - I'll be easy to find late at night!

Check out the band at the CJW in Xintindi. I was there in August and the band was very, very good.

isnt the aussie band still at house of blues and jazz? they were pretty good, except that they had a standard routine which they repeated ad nauseum and without variation every nite (even the dance moves and audience participation bits)

Has the house of jazz and blues moved? They used to be MaoMing Lu...

I was at HOUSE OF BLUES on Saturday night .. Sam knows his stuff .. very good.

... and where was it?

Hi to all the Jazz fans living in Shanghai!
I just wanted to drop a few lines on CJW (a lounge-bar I really enjoy to visit once or twice a week).
I've been to CJW both at Xintiandi and Bund center.
I must say I really appreciated the band playing at the Bund Center. The singer Arlee Leonard has a superb voice... but damn it! I was told she'd finish her contract next week! Let's wait and see who will be the new singer.
BTW CJW might seem a little expensive compared to the others Jazz bars of Shanghai, but the one at the Bund Center also offers an amazing 360 panoramic view and a very good selection of wines, spirit and ... Cuban cigars!!
I'll give you some updates on the new band's members ASAP.

Hi to all the Jazz fans living in Shanghai!
I just wanted to drop a few lines on CJW (a lounge-bar I really enjoy to visit once or twice a week).
I've been to CJW both at Xintiandi and Bund center.
I must say I really appreciated the band playing at the Bund Center. The singer Arlee Leonard has a superb voice... but damn it! I was told she'd finish her contract next week! Let's wait and see who will be the new singer.
BTW CJW might seem a little expensive compared to the others Jazz bars of Shanghai, but the one at the Bund Center also offers an amazing 360 panoramic view and a very good selection of wines, spirit and ... Cuban cigars!!
I'll give you some updates on the new band's members ASAP.

hmmmm, something doesn't smell right

Heard that Blues & Jazz is wonderful last night, hey Matthew I have googled for the address just now, it seems to be at the corner of Fu Xing Lu and Mao Ming Lu. I am likely to give a shot next week.

Some of my friends were there last night and they were telling me it was a good night. Funny story about some extremely drunk laowai who got his xiao didi out and scared a lot of the girls in there. Idiot!

Worst thing about B&J is the 80RMB set charge for 1st drink, to "cover the band fee". The drinks already cost a lot compared to anywehere else around there, so this policy does my head in.

http://www.cjwchina.com/
"New York Jazz Scene now in Shanghai!"
Tenor Saxophonist Eric Wyatt is one of the most significant names of the New York jazz scene. Now, first time in China, Eric was brought to you by CJW music director Carol Chang who is also the pianist of the CJW band at Bund Center 50f.Wyatt began learning the saxophone at age of 10 and became a sought- after musician.
Performing from Monday-Thursday 9:00-12:30, Friday, Saturday 9:00-1:15.