By Carolyn Fe for Curtains Up
Gone are the days when ‘going out’ was an event in itself. There was a time when men and women would dress to the nine’s and steppin’ out was an elegant affair. Gentlemen wore Biltmores and bow ties while the ladies were oh-so-chic with their evening gloves and slingback heels as they took a cab to their favourite swanky joint.
Dinner, compared to today’s standards, would be as simple as a rib-eye steak or roast chicken with a shrimp cocktail to start or, as elaborate as ceasar salad made at your tableside followed by fresh oysters on ice, a beef wellington or lobster newberg as the main course all of which, is followed by a grand finale of flaming crepes suzette or a new york style cheesecake.
All through the night, and every night, a live band would set the vibe of the room as giggle waters like Manhattans, Martinis, Whiskey Sours, Pink Ladies or Stingers would be sipped all night long. On special occasions, champagne cork pops would be heard throughout the room as patrons celebrating momentous moments are captured in flashes of black and white photos.
An outing at the supper club was not a one-hour event, it was a whole evening all through to dawn. But that was another time and another place when elegance dictated the evening out. Or was it?
Vintage-pure. A time when sheiks and sheibas were spiffy as the cat’s meow and knew how to whoopee it up. Have I aged myself? Not a bit. Google it. LOL.
What happened? When did elegance get relagated to proms, weddings or exlcusive red-carpet events? Was it the advent of the computer age with its quick satisfacation fast food approach to gratification that « slow and sure » became passé?
Let me take you on a trip but you’d have take one step back in time with me. Don’t worry. You’ll be back to your smart phones and twitter in no time. I want you to take a deep breath and exhale slowly.
Now imagine this, you’re walking down brass railed stairs catching a glimpse of yourself on the mirrored walls as the music eases you into the small lobby replete with autographed photos of musicians of today and days gone by. You realise these artists are staples of the jazz world. Then a smiling tuxedoed Maitre D’, whose name could be Francois or JP or Jacques, greets you in a manner that is reminiscent of days when if you were a regular at a joint, you’d have your table ready and waiting with your favourite cocktail. Mmmmm…service with a smile is a rare commodity these days.
The Maitre D’ welcomes you into the room and you are immediately taken back to the 1920s. You are escorted to your table as the servers greet you with a knowing wink of an eye. You wonder, what do they know? And then it hits you! Your senses are jolted with images and sounds of yesteryear. Gold, Bronze, Red, Brown, Carved wood, Peacock Feathers, Etched Glass, Chandeliers, Statues and Statuettes all from an era of Art Deco. The jazz trio on stage plays as you sink into the comfy booth and dig into your dinner. You have arrived. This is not a dream nor is it a time travel experience. This is elegance, this is the House of Jazz, today.
In 1968, local entrepreneur and entertainment impressario George Durst opened his second nightclub directly across from the famous Playboy Club. The venue, initially named for its creator was later re-baptized as Maxwell and then reinvented as Biddle’s, the inspiration for the House of Jazz.
Durst is known for his ability to create stunning interiors with an undeniably charming ambience. He has a massive collection of beautiful paintings, scultpures, and miscellaneous art deco pieces, all of which cannot fit in the venue. The House of Jazz is practically a living museum. One cannot help but visit again and again. There is always something to discover and just when you think you’ve gotten acquainted with all the pieces, he throws in something new located in a most discrete place in the venue. It is eye candy!
Durst is also a lover of music and championed established artists. As well, he continues to nurture the talents of the next generation musicians. It is no surprise that the House of Jazz’s stage has been graced by the likes of Mr. Oliver Jones, Oscar Peterson, Billy Georgett, Skip Bey, Joe Dassin, David Bowie, Liza Minelli and of course, Charlie Biddle.
Every night, there are live bands that step up onto the stage. Dinner and cocktail hours are enveloped by the sounds of smooth jazz duos or trios. At weeks end patrons are treated with 2 shows : the cocktail hour. and a lively jazz or blues band that can rock the house. Musicians immediately connect with the crowd in this intimate setting. They sing and play, teasing the audiences with surprise birthday wishes or anniversary greetings. Certain bands have gotten the audiences off their seats to dance and throw away the past week’s troubles.
The food, drinks, service, entertainment and the ambiance at the House of Jazz evokes the elegance of yesteryear all the while bringing in today’s casualness to going out. But hey, why not take a walk off the beaten path? Come on in the House of Jazz. Get yourself trogged to the bricks and get hep to the jive and kill in a kookie nuts kind o’ way. Dig? I be seein’ ya there – www.Houseofjazz.ca
Carolyn Fe Blues Collective
Photos by Litratista.com
