At 75 years old, Detroit's Baker's Keyboard Lounge is the oldest running jazz club in the world. It's small stage has seen the likes of Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Cab Calloway, John Coltrane, and Ella Fitzgerald, to name a few. But just as the club is preparing to celebrate it's 75th anniversary, owner John Colbert has made it known that it's doors may soon be closing.
"The business has dropped considerably...by about 35-40% four nights out of the week," says Colbert. "Our cash reserve is down to keeping us open about 2 and a half months at most".
He acknowledges that Jazz's hey-day has passed, causing their clientele to diminish in the past decades. In an attempt to keep customers coming, the club expanded their event repertoire to include new genres. But opening a lunch and dinner restaurant at the club is what really kept the money coming in. Now that people are eating out less, Colbert believes the recession may put the final nail in his club's coffin.
The night after an article about Baker's dire situation came out in the Detroit Free Press, the club was crowded with people there to support it and take in the sounds of Gerard Gibbs (on keys below) and his band. Colbert hopes that as news of the club's situation spreads, help will find a way of arriving.
At the end of the night, a waiter tallies up bills on a piano in the corner.
Among the greatest of the old jazz clubs, right here in our own backyard...I love this place dearly, and have spent many nights and New Years Eve in it's cozy booths. THANK YOU for this piece...we have been blessed.
ReplyDeleteThanks for doing this blog. Great photos!
ReplyDeleteMore posts ! I can't wait to read more!
ReplyDeleteI just found your site on Slate. Thanks for doing this project. It's incredibly valuable and important.
ReplyDeleteFantastic stories. Keep them coming.
ReplyDeleteBaker's closing its doors would be a terrible loss to both a town with a long history of bad breaks and recessions and to the jazz community. I've seen so many great shows there, and seen many young jazz player have his chops put to the test by the house bands. Thanks for this story.
ReplyDeleteDo not let this place close. I have lived throughout the country looking for a place to match the magic that happens nightly here, and have come up empty. Baker's closing would not only be devastating for Detroit, but for jazz as well.
ReplyDeleteI love Bakers Lounge.This is a place you can sit back, relax and enjoy good food, entertainment and service. It would be a real sad day in Detroit if Bakers close down. I took my mother to Bakers for Mothers Day. It was her first time there and she really enjoyed it. I tell you what if I run into some big money I will give Bakers what they need to stay open.
ReplyDeleteThey have t-shirts on the website and a benefit concert coming up. Please support!
ReplyDelete"Jazz's Hey-Day has passed": Yes this is partly true, however I don't totally agree with it, at least here in London, there is actually growing popularity amongst young people, especially thanks to more crossover acts with influences drawing from the jazz and blues greats.
ReplyDeletehang in there guys, great venues don't come by the dozen, it would be a shame to lose one with such history.
This is really sad that Baker's Keyboard Lounge is about to close. But I would like to hear this for long.....
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ReplyDeleteI hope this blog goes for 25 years! It's going to be an "interesting" time ahead in a country with no viable business model for its economy. Surviving will be the richest, most beautiful part.
ReplyDelete♥ Great job Andy...
ReplyDeleteI love the pictures...
~Love and Light...
~Debbie:)