Photos: At St. Vincent, jazz blooms
There’s something about walking into St. Vincent, lower Georgia Avenue’s only club with regular jazz programming. First you step up, then in. It’s a little dark, but the greeting is warm. To your left is the bottle shop. Above you, audible but out of sight, is the music, a bar, more people, and a few reserved tables. The host finishes checking you in then you’re off. Up, rather, the tall staircase, where the sound of everything closes in on you and the outside world fades away.
The club hosts live jazz multiple nights a week, with a schedule that features a wide range of D.C.’s working musicians, booked by veteran curator Zach Cutler. However, Mondays are reserved for Joe Brotherton, who has held down a residency at St. Vincent for three years now alongside Colin Chambers and Tyler Leak.
The club opened in late 2020, modeling itself after Bacchanal, a cherished home for live jazz in New Orleans. In the years since, St. Vincent has built a distinct image and a local following.
Allison Desy, St. Vincent’s beverage director, is responsible for all things wine but also interacts with the musicians most nights of the week. “We have a crowd of Monday night regulars that fill the bar,many forming friendships through their shared love of jazz and wine,” Desy said. “The sounds and energy from Joe Brotherton, Tyler Leak and Colin Chambers create a vibe unlike any other place I’ve been in D.C. — the same can be said for all of the artists that take the stage at St. Vincent.”
There is an intergenerational thing going on at St. Vincent as well. You can see it on the bandstand and throughout the bar.
People of all ages mix it up inside the space. Old jazz heads from U Street make the trek uptown, blending with twenty-somethings who make their way over after seeing a “best places for jazz” video online.
“I’ve heard a lot about how younger generations are losing the idea of a ‘third space,’” Desi said. “In other words, where is the place to be and exist outside of the home and outside of work? I strongly believe that St. Vincent is one of those spaces, across generations.”
The key is consistency. St. Vincent, at once a high level destination and a neighborhood watering hole, delivers on their promise of music, wine and community week after week. Neighbors can expect an open seat to unwind. Wine fans can rely on staff to help them learn, and above all, musicians can look forward to steady work and a place to hear their peers.
All photos by Keith Butler, Jr. for CapitalBop
