By Patte Purcell
Now that the season has wound down, the locals love to come out and enjoy the town without the crowds. If you’re looking for some places to listen to great jazz I’ve put together some of our favorites. This time we will focus on Palm Springs.
You’ve got some great choices. Wang’s in the Desert located at 424 South Indian Canyon Drive has a lovely little patio called “Zen”, Alex Santana (CV Music Awards nominee) plays there every Tuesday on Taco Tuesdays 5-8 pm. He does some Latin jazz and soft jazz on acoustic as well as vocals. His easy going style is perfect for the venue. Kevin Miller who does standards is also there frequently. Check out their site for the current schedule (www.wangsinthedesert.com). They have great cocktails including some rum drinks for $5.00 during happy hour and a nice bar menu selection.
Dish Creative Cuisine has stepped outside the box this season and presented a show “Keisha D’s Juke Joint at the Speakeasy” and she’s packing them in. Keisha D (CV Music Awards nominee) and band start at 9:30 on Saturday nights. She’s had celebrity drummer Alvin Taylor (this year’s CV Music Awards Lifetime Achievement recipient) who sat in with her and the buzz around town is that Keisha D has some big things in her future. Located at 1107 N. Palm Canyon Drive it is the hot place to be on Saturday nights.
Keisha is also performing at the Hyatt Hoo Doo Lounge from 7-10 on the patio. The Hoo Doo is situated on Palm Canyon and a lush outdoor seating area makes it a great place to hang out. The address is 285 N. Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs.
Rose Mallett is at the Purple Room every Tuesday from 6:30 to 9:30. This is a nice small room with a stage. Rose never disappoints with her bluesy style. It’s located at 1900 E. Palm Canyon Drive. Thursday Sharon Sills takes the stage.
Eve Holmes will be performing at AJ’s on Tuesday, May 23rd with pianist Barney McClure and Thursday, June 8 with Bill Marx and Doug Mc Donald on guitar. The hours are 7 to 10 pm. She performs standards and Latin jazz. It’s located at 36200 Date Palm Drive.
Shanghai Reds located at 235 South Indian Canyon Drive continues to have some of the best jazz and blues in the desert. Along with a great menu and large cocktails, Smooth Brothers (CV Music Awards nominee), Barry Bond Blues Band and others keep the joint jumping. There’s dancing as well Thursday through Sunday.
Woody’s Palm House located at 450 South Palm Canyon Drive continues to offer live jazz and blues music 7 days a week. Sundays there is a jazz brunch from 11-2. Then jazz from 6-10 with John Carey (CV Music Awards nominee)and friends.
Mondays are Motown, Tuesdays there’s jazz sax, Wednesdays it’s Yve Evans Blues band, Thursdays its jazz or blues, Friday it’s Rose Mallett (CV Music Awards nominee)one of the desert’s favorites and Saturday’s it’s Stanley Butler Blues band.
360 North another small cozy restaurant/club offers jazz as well. Tuesdays it’s jazz guitar with Doug McDonald, Wednesday’s Michael D’Angelo croons the favorites, Thursdays its Mike Costley, Fridays it’s Pat Rizzo and Dennis Michaels on sax and keyboard, Saturday’s Mikole Karl and Sunday Darci Daniels and Reggie Vision on sax. Located at 360 North Palm Canyon Drive.
As you can see there is plenty to do during the off season so get out and enjoy some live jazz from some of these great artists.
