Wally's Cafe Jazz Club
Jazz club · Roxbury ·
Historic jazz club: live music nightly, supports students
Historic jazz club: live music nightly, supports students
"On Massachusetts Avenue in the South End, Wally’s Café Jazz Club has nurtured Boston’s jazz scene since 1947, offering a historic, intimate anchor for late-night live music." - Todd Plummer
"Legendary Wally's Cafe is the oldest continually operating jazz club in the United States. Opened in 1947, Wally's was the first African American owned nightclub in New England known for bringing the newest and best acts to town, making it the attraction for jazz aficionados of the day. While the space is tiny, it packs a big sound with live music 365 days a year. The bands featured nightly at the club are made up of musicians from some of the finest music schools in the country, all located in and around Boston. They come to perfect their craft and are considered by some to be among the most talented in the nation, giving Wally's it's proud reputation as the "Training Ground". This is the quintessential jazz dive." - Adam&Co.
"The first Black-owned jazz club in New England — and the only remaining jazz club of a bygone era in Boston — Wally’s has been around since the 1940s (located across the street from its current location until 1979). This cozy little bar is filled with live music every night of the year, showcasing students as well as professionals. The beer’s pretty cheap, and the mixed drinks are no-frills." - Erika Adams
"A family-run, decades-old jazz club founded in 1947 by Joseph L. Walcott that played a pioneering role in Boston nightlife—its Barbadian founder was the city’s first Black nightclub owner and even ate breakfast with Martin Luther King Jr. when MLK lived in Boston. The intimate venue has hosted major performers (including a decorated saxophonist, a legendary jazz singer, and a noted bassist), supports student musicians from nearby schools, and remains managed by the founder’s descendants with the next generation handling day-to-day operations." - Erika Adams
"Wally’s is included in the Boston Black Hospitality Coalition's efforts to raise funds for black-owned businesses impacted by the pandemic. The coalition works to implement strategic responses to save these important community businesses." - Rachel Leah Blumenthal