Brisbane’s history with jazz goes all the way back to the 1920s. Legendary venues like Cloudland and the Ritz would host iconic jazz shows that quickly became the hottest tickets in town. Now, ‘The Jazz Room’ in Brisbane is coming to set the city alight with soulful live music performances taking place inside a street-style bar. From classics by Sinatra and Davis to groovy improvisations, prepare to be enchanted by groovy evenings of live music.
The Jazz Room in Brisbane: Which concerts are on now?
The Jazz Room: A Journey to the Heart of New Orleans
Jazz emerged as a revolutionary musical form in early 20th century New Orleans, blossoming from the creative fusion of African rhythmic traditions, European harmonies and Caribbean influences within African-American communities. The genre’s distinctive characteristics—syncopated rhythms, expressive individuality, and fearless improvisation—grew from precursors like blues and ragtime to create something entirely new.
The show brilliantly captures this evolution, beginning with New Orleans classics before transitioning into sophisticated instrumental improvisations over “Cantaloupe Island” and “Freddie Freeloader.” The experience culminates with beloved vocal standards including “Fly Me To The Moon,” “Summertime” and “All Of Me,” with each musician taking centre stage for featured solos. Throughout the performance, the carefully crafted ambiance transports audiences back to the golden age of jazz.
The Jazz Room: Tribute to Soul
Soul music’s roots in African American churches and communities created a genre defined by virtuosic vocals, gospel-influenced arrangements, and lyrics that celebrated both sacred and secular experiences. This tribute honors legends like Luther Vandross and Otis Redding through performances that capture soul’s distinctive blend of spiritual passion and earthly groove. The show demonstrates how soul music transcended cultural boundaries to become a global phenomenon that continues to influence contemporary artists across all genres.
The Jazz Room: Tribute to the Blues
Born from the Mississippi Delta plantations, blues music gave voice to generations navigating hardship and hope in post-Civil War America. Icons like B.B. King and Muddy Waters transformed personal pain into musical poetry, establishing the foundation for all modern popular music through their innovative use of blue notes and call-and-response patterns. This powerful tribute celebrates blues’ lasting influence with stirring performances of classics like “The Thrill Is Gone” and “Boom Boom”, showcasing the genre’s signature guitar work and soulful vocals.
What is ‘The Jazz Room’?
Music has always had the power to transport us, but ‘The Jazz Room’ takes that idea literally. Venues are transformed to recreate the smoky atmosphere of 1920s New Orleans through carefully designed lighting, intimate seating, and that iconic streetlamp stage setup that makes every performance feel like a secret gathering. Some nights transport you to New Orleans with Fats Waller’s playful “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” while other evenings might pulse with the spiritual power of Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together”.
Reviews for The Jazz Room in Brisbane
This event has received rave reviews from hundreds of audience members, saying that “the music was the star” and “the performance was spectacular”.
“Very interesting, captivating and just long enough. We had a thoroughly enjoyable night. “ – January 10
“Great night out and good entertainment” – January 10
“Very thought provoking” – January 10
“It was very good. Really enjoyed it.” – January 10
Let the live music take you on an unforgettable musical journey this season at ‘The Jazz Room’ in Brisbane. On selected dates over the coming months, Grand on Ann will be hosting these captivating music shows. Located inside Masonic Memorial Centre Freemasons, the building itself is a heritage-listed venue with Queensland timbers and gorgeous interiors.
There will be two performances on the night for each show, starting at 6:30pm and 8:30pm so you can choose the performance that best suits your schedule. Tickets are sold in tiers and seats are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis in each zone.