Jazz Kitchen 10

I can’t speak for others’ experiences but I’ve always been treated well there. I just can’t afford to eat there as often as I’d like.

To the woman who insists that her issue of June 26, 08 was “racism,” I’m highly sceptical. Jazz Kitchen is known for management and staff enforcing some respect for the musician(s) performing, and that usually amounts to dealing with noise issues during the performance. It may not have been handled to your liking, that’s obvious, and it may not have been handled diplomatically, that’s possible, but it seems that you were 1. Basically asked to respect the performers and other listeners. Your opinion of the performance doesn’t affect this issue. 2. Given the opportunity to move to another area where you wouldn’t have to yell to be heard. This would provide: the chance to converse without competing with ‘noise’ from the band you didn’t like and remove an irritant from others’ who may have liked the band.

The idea of racism from the Jazz Kitchen’s owner, management, or staff is utterly absurd. This is a color-blind place where black, white, brown, red, and yellow mingle for their common bond of music. Not like clubs in other cities where you find diversity in the same place, but not mingling in the process. This is because the owner drives it from the top down with his not-so-original philosopy that jazz is a color-blind music for our collective enjoyment. You’d be hard-pressed to find any regular patrons who would share your views. You may have felt miffed about not being able to do as you pleased, when and where you pleased, without needing to respect the other people enjoying the music, but to cry racism because the owner is white is idiocy. What was racist about any of this? Don’t spin it the way it wasn’t.

Date: Monday, September 1st, 2008
Showtimes: Noon-6pm
Price: free

One of the best events of the year, The Labor Day Street Fair, returns to the corner of 54th & College, and helping us close out the end of the summer months will be three terrific bands! From 12:30-2pm will be The Steve Allee Trio with Kenny Phelps and Frank Smith. They’ll be playing some of Steve’s great compositions from his latest CD “Dragonfly,” as well as other favorites. From 2:30-4pm will be The Bill Lancton Coalition, throwing a bit of funky, jazz guitar and horns into the mix, and rounding out the day from 4:30-6pm will be the Dixon / Rhyne Project, featuring saxophonist Rob Dixon and B3 legend Melvin Rhyne playing some selections off of their current CD, "Reinvention.
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New to the corner party this year – and open during the fair – will be the wonderful boutique, Be.

Please join us for a great day of music and libations – open to the whole family!

Cuisine and beverages available for purchase from The Jazz Kitchen and Yats.

www. thejazzkitchen. com

Your response would be the definition of idiocy. I’m a 34 year old professional woman, far from a child. I don’t go anywhere and behave however I want to. What was racist was being told without reason to move from the fron to the back of the restaurant. The owner was asked several times by myself and the other women that I was with if he had received any complaints and his response was simply, “No”. People like you though really irritate me. You want the idea of racism swept under the rug. It exists in every establishment including this one. Someone like you probably has a hard time believing that members of the KKK and slave owners who raped, tortured and killed blacks actually attended church on Sunday. They too found no wrong in their behavior. I know racism when I see and it I take your response as an insult to my intelligence. Just maybe you and the owner have more in common than you’d like to admit. Perhaps that’s the reason why you only responded to my review instead of making one of your own. There was a (white) lady across the table from us that you could hear clearly and nothing was said to her. I do believe she was still there when we opted to leave. If you’d rather believe that my experience was merely a figment of my imigination you’d have to ask the other (6) ladies that were with me why they too felt the same. I guess neither of us has the intellect that you seem to think you do. My opinion is my opinion, I’m entitled to it and I stand by it. The JazzKitchen has a racist owner. The night I was there the band was horrible and the waitress was more than incompetent. If the owner wanted to say anything to us he should have been asking us why after 30 minutes we didn’t have our drinks. Just so you know genius, it’s not the brightest idea to have a jazz band and resteraunt combined if you don’t want the customers talking amongst themselves. Either that or along with the cover charge require that we know sign language so that when the time comes we can communicate our drink and entree selections to the staff without having to say a word. You nor any other regular patron has to worry I wouldn’t ever go back to this establishment,(and I use that term loosely), if the owner himself paid me. As far as I’m concerned both you and the owner can jump off a cliff and if you land at the JazzKitchen you’ll be right were you belong. On top of a pricey hole in the wall that tries to pass itself off as a nice place when it really doesn’t even scratch the suface. I could open up a can of glory greens and I’d bet that you’d think you were eating authentic soul food. What a joke!

Growing up abroad – I used to watch movies with cool little clubs in America where interesting people hung out and listened to music and all kinds of cool things happened over drinks and dinner amidst an ambiance of smoky cool. The disconnect between that perception of mine and living in Indianapolis is huge. Enter the Jazz Kitchen. Its a neighborhood place. For the suburbanites or the for the exclusive neighborhood dwellers – South Broadripple is happening. And its very safe. Back to my story – Dave Ahlee is a visionary that is remapping Indianapolis. This is one of the clubs that keeps Jazz vibrant. Its not a bunch of old fogies sitting around. Its the club that cool, interesting (see my earlier reference) people hang out. Its a mixed demographic – all young at heart, all genders and races, and all co-chillin’ with some of Indy’s tastiest jazz and american fusion food. The back bar and newly launched party room is worth checking out. And its a beautiful venue too. I love the appetizers, the fettucini, the pizza and the deserts. But this place is more than food – its community, overall coolnes and great drinks. Thanks Dave!!!

Check this out: My boy and I are getting super fancy with our outings. We lucked into a special deal at the Jazz Kitchen in …

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Its got a nice atmosphere in the place, it is a little on the pricey side for what it is, but you wont care when your having fun there.

For something out of the ordinary and a taste of some flavors that may spice up your life, The Jazz Kitchen delivers. If you can get past the intimidation of looking like your two left footed shoes have their laces tied together, you can have some serious fun. To help with the steps, there’s a quick crash course that will at least get in the game. The music, people, atmosphere….Caliente!

Go salsa dancing on Thursday nights at the Jazz Kitchen! Even if you aren’t a master salsa dancer (I am not!), it’s so much fun and there are always some great dancers to watch.

If your looking for a great place for jazz and food look no further. Offering Indy’s only venue with top notch jazz entertainment and a full menu of American Fusion Cuisine.
Come for the jazz, the food or both. You won’t be disappointed!!