The Baltimore Scene
by Carl Filipiak

Welcome to Baltimore, home to some world-class musicians. Here's a short list of some names you may recognize: Dennis Chambers, Greg Hatza, Gary Thomas, Walt Namuth, Gary Bartz, the Grainger Brothers and Cyrus Chestnut. Since there aren't as many venues for jazz here as one would think, finding talent on this level may require a bit of work. My list below should save you some time in your search, and turn you on to some of the best places to hear jazz. Thanks for letting me share my experiences with you!

The New Haven Lounge is located in the city but outside the Inner Harbor area, which is a major tourist attraction in downtown Baltimore. The only "real" jazz club around, the New Haven has music six nights a week and the vibe is awesome. The club features local and national talent… you'll hear some of the best musicians in Baltimore. And if you're lucky, you can catch jazz legends like Joey De Francesco or Dave Liebman playing there. Keith Covington is the owner and a huge jazz fan that puts his money where his heart is. Hope you can check it out when you're in town.

Also very cool, and closer to the harbor is An Die Musik on Charles Street. Here, you'll find some great artists playing in an intimate setting, and be close to some excellent restaurants and art galleries. An Die Musik doesn't have music every night like the Haven, so be sure to check their schedule before you go.

The Baltimore Chamber Jazz Society offers concerts in the spring and fall, and they bring in some great artists. This year you can see and hear David "Fathead" Newman, the Walt Weiskoff Sextet and many others in the auditorium of the BMA (Baltimore Museum of Art).

The BMA Summer Concert Series is also worth checking out. Eric Alexander and the Winard Harper Sextet appear this summer, as well as many others. We have Michael Cherigo to thank for booking great music here and elsewhere in Baltimore.

Jazz may not be the main reason people come to Fells Point, a historic waterfront community in Baltimore, but there are a few places that you can catch some talented artists that fly under the radar. On Monday nights for example, you can hear the Phil Cunneff Trio at the Cat's Eye; the trio has played there for years.

Stop in at Bertha's on Tuesday nights and check out guitarist Paul Wingo and enjoy some of the club's famous mussels! While most of the clubs don't specialize in jazz, you'll still hear some great blues and rock bands on other nights of the week.

If you have an extra day to travel to Annapolis, make sure you check out The Ram's Head, a first-class room that features national acts, assigned seating, great food and their own microbrewery. If you're in town on the right night, you'll catch acts like Pat Metheny, Robben Ford, or Spyro Gyra. I'll be performing there with my group on July 8th, so make sure you stop in and say hello! Another great place for lunch or dinner is the "funky" 49 West Coffeehouse where live music is showcased almost every night and the food is happening! You should also check out the Annapolis Society of Jazz Guitar Players for further information. I hope you find your stay in the Baltimore area pleasant and that I've helped you find some great music. Baltimore is famous for crab cakes and steamed crabs, so make sure you don't leave town without trying them! Below are a few venues to check out, and maybe I'll see you at one of my performances soon...

Take care,
Carl Filipiak
www.carlfilipiak.com

Websites:
http://www.artbma.org
www.ramsheadtavern.com
www.catseyepub.com
www.49westcoffeehouse.com
www.baltimorechamberjazz.org

Addresses:
New Haven Lounge
1552 Havenwood Rd.
Baltimore, MD 21218
410-366-7416

Berthas
734 S. Broadway
Baltimore, MD 21231
410-327-5795