Just the name, Regatta Bar, suggests tony leisure. Indeed, tucked away in a corner of the elegant Charles Hotel in Cambridge, near Harvard Square and the boating clubs along the Charles River, this “bar” is more night club than corner hang. Or rather, more jazz club than sports bar.

On the third floor of the hotel, the Regatta is hardly a small venue by jazz club standards, seating 225 when packed full, which it was both nights I visited. Tables and chairs nearly spill onto the stage area, simply a corner of the floor rather than a raised platform. An outer circle of high tables and chairs suggests a low mezzanine.

Although open and presenting music all year, it’s the Regatta’s Jazz Fest (running from February through April) that brings in a tight schedule of such high profile artists as McCoy Tyner, Cassandra Wilson, Kenny Barron, John Scofield, and Bill Frisell, to grab a few names off the spring 2009 calendar. And it was my fortune to be in the Boston area in the midst of this annual celebration of jazz, and to snare tickets for Freddy Cole and McCoy Tyner only two nights apart. Two very different musicians, two different experiences, both memorable in their own way.

The Regatta Bar opened its doors to the public on January 29th, 1985. Since then it has become the leading jazz club not only in Boston, but also New England. Named one of the “Best of Boston” by Boston Magazine an astonishing thirteen times, the Regattabar has made its mark on the cultural landscape of New England. Honors have also been bestowed on the Regattabar by the Boston Phoenix and the Improper Bostonian.

Performance Schedule:

View their Show Schedule online.

Details:

- In addition to showcasing acts not normally found on the Boston scene, the Regattabar is home to an annual Jazz Festival that features the best of today’s jazz.

- The famed 225-seat venue is located on the third floor of The Charles Hotel at One Bennett Street in Cambridge, MA.

- All Regattabar concerts are open to ALL AGES, thought we request that children under the age of 13 be accompanied by an adult.

Location:
Regatta Bar (Charles Hotel)
1 Bennett Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 661-5000
http://www.regattabarjazz.com

Related Posts

1. Cafe 939 In Boston Hosts The New Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Ensemble
2. The Phoenix: Great Jazz Nightclub in Kansas City
3. Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola In New York
4. Kitano Hotel In Manhattan: Great Jazz four nights a week
5. Berklee To Hold Its 41st Annual High School Jazz Festival: Open to the public and admission is free