This place has been around for nearly 20 years and only has one review? That's madness! Jazz is one of Nashville's musical traditions and should be nurtured and appreciated. I'm sad to say that before a week or so ago, I didn't know the Jazz Workshop existed. Now that I do, I plan on returning for future sets and bringing friends. If you haven't taken the time to enjoy a show here you're missing out on experiencing some of the best musicians this city has to offer. And, yes, I know that's saying a lot... and that's just my point.
Tucked away in a corner of Germantown that doesn't get the foot traffic of the Downtown edges*, the Workshop is a place you have to know to look for. You won't just happen upon it. But, I guess, that's jazz, right? The smoke. The mystery. The romance. Your experience begins as soon as you take off for a show. The workshop has an education arm but this review is going to be about the performance space. To the surprise of no one, the space is small. You might be able to secure night of seats but I wouldn't risk it. Go online and purchase seats in advance. The seats you buy actually correspond to a table. There's not row seating. There's table seating. You come and watch/hear jazz at a table with low lights, exposed brick walls and cool kats. Oh! AND YOU CAN BRING YOUR OWN WINE AND FOOD! Yes, you can purchase items there but allow me to repeat: YOU CAN BRING YOUR OWN WINE AND FOOD! I couldn't believe it. I felt a bit guilty walking into the hall with a bottle of wine and a glass but felt at ease once I looked at the regulars going to town with prepared plates and bottleS of wine. Jazz.
The space, set and crowd made me feel as though I wasn't in Nashville. The Jazz Workshop could easily be found in New Orleans, Chicago, Memphis, or New York. For the entirety of the show I kept thinking how unbelievably cool this all was and how it was too bad that I'd missed out on so many previous shows. I felt cool. Like, real cool... not hipster pretension. Like, sadness and sex and humidity and depth and a determination to stay authentic... cool. Like, hats appropriately worn cool. And speaking of the show... I was here to listen to Giovanni Rodriguez. He produced an entire set with an ensemble he directed and it was stellar. From traditional jazz to bossa nova to R&B to Afro-Cuban jazz, I was enthralled. And I wasn't the only one. The entire crowd was enraptured by the music and the venue organizers had to (pretty much) turn on the lights in order to get people to leave. The air was electric and the music was infectious. Jazz lives. Jazz dances. It infuses itself to every part of the performer and listener and all of the above (and more) was present during the set I saw/heard.
I left in an incredibly good mood and determined to see/hear more jazz. When thinking about the skilled musicians that make up Nashville, take some time to look for the jazz artists who live amongst us. If the local jazz culture is anything like I experienced at the NJW, prepare to be blown away. I cannot more highly recommend seeing a show here.
*But, if the activity in the old warehouses are to be believed, that's about to change. read more