As a jazz lover (though still a debutant
fan), I always try to find jazz clubs or cafés whenever I go. I love
those jazzy nights, drinking coktails, listening to the low husky sexy
voice of the jazz singer. Considering that I mostly travel in France,
moreover that I travel to small French cities (where a chess tournament
can be perfectly held), sometimes I just have to accept that there
won’t be jazzy nights in my vacation Well, we’re not in America. In
France, jazz is not as big. It only has a few fans, and mostly they’re
older than me… The young folks seem like that they only listen to rap /
R and B / alternative rock-metal.Bah, I can’t even classify the music they listen to 
BUT,
Paris always has some ways to keep all tourists amused. There are lots
of jazz cafés, bars, clubs… from north to south, from therive gauche to rive droite, from St. Germain de Près to the Bastille… I have some fave places that I can suggest to you when you’re in town. Jazz lovers, you’re gonna love these places!
1. Café Laurent.
(Rue Dauphine, métro station Odéon or St Michel)
My
fave place. If you don’t like the ambiance of a club or a bar, this is
your place. It is really what French would call: café. It’s situated in
the 6tharrondissement , in the center of jazz life in Paris (in
quartier St. Germain). It’s quite a chic place, price of coktails start
from 10 euros, beers from 5-6 euros (suggestion: try the Pink Lady). As
a café, they don’t serve food, just drinks (as far as I remember, all
with alcohol), so I strongly suggest to have dinner before going there.
I like it because it’s romantic, it’s not noisy, and people come there
really for listening to some music, not to chit chat with friends. The
owner invites different jazz band per week, and sometimes they have
bands coming from America. It’s a perfect place to have a romantic date
with your chéri or chérie.
2. Sunset and Sunside Jazz Club
(Rue des Lombards, métro station Chatelet)
It’s
in the first arrondissement, near The Louvre Museum and The Chatelet
Castle. This place has been there for 20 years, and they have always
been loyal to jazz. Actually, there are two rooms: the Sunset and the
Sunside. The Sunset is in the basement, and the jazz you can find here
is electro-jazz: a mix between jazz and techno. The Sunside, on the
ground floor (rez-de-chaussée), offers ‘classical’ jazz:Broadway jazz,
swing,… While enjoying the music, you can order food which costs around
8-25 euros. Or, you can just order a drink: coktails starting from 8,50
euros and beers from 4,50 euros. For your information, if you come just
to enjoy the music, sit as close as possible to the band. In a place
like this, people come to socialize, not especially for the good jazz.
Anyway, nice place to rest your feet after having seen the Monalisa by your own two eyes
3. Caveau de La Huchette
(Rue de La Huchette, métro station St. Michel)
It’s
a little bit more expensive from the two previous adresses, because
they have an entrance fee : 11 euros in the week, 13 euros in the
weekend, and 9 euros for student (prepare your student card !). Drinks
start from 4,50 euros. The bands come from America and all over Europe.
There are two floors, one with a dance floor. Honestly, I don’t know
when is best to come, because for me, it always seems crowded. But it’s
normal, considering the reputation of this place as the place with the
best jazz in Paris. We can even take a jazz lesson every Tuesday, from
19.00 to 21.00
Okay, among the hundreds of jazz clubs, café, and bar in Paris,
those are the adresses I suggest. I like these three because they’re
very easy to reach, they have good jazz, and they have their own
special ambiance.
One small reminder: since the 1st of January 2008, it is forbidden
to smoke inside of public closed space, including cafés, bars, pubs,
clubs, discotheques. Maybe it’s good to smoke while enjoying music and
drinking coktails, but the fine is too handsome to make you want to
take the risk 
…
Okay folks, happy jazzing in Paris!
