top of page
JazzSquare-Title.png

JAZZ SQUARE CELEBRATION

Jazz Square celebrates the rich history of jazz in Boston, bringing new life to the area between Mass Ave and Columbus Ave, which was once a vibrant hub for music, art, and culture. Jazz Square, now officially recognized as a historical hub for jazz in Boston, was once home to iconic clubs such as the Savoy Cafe, Hi-Hat Club, Eddie’s Cafe, and Wally’s Cafe Jazz Club, the latter being the only one still operating today. The Jazz Square celebration will feature community events, walking tours, concerts, and visual art installations to honor this history and its lasting impact. Supported by the Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture, Jazz Square is a collaboration between the Claremont Neighborhood Association, Boston Jazz Foundation, The Reckonings Project, Wally’s Jazz Cafe, and Jazz Boston. The Jazz Square celebration is not only a tribute to the neighborhood's storied past but also a commitment to its future as a center for arts, culture, and community.

Thank You For Your Support

Boston Jazz Luminary Award 

1.png
2.png
Jazz-Pianist.png

Historical Spotlight

During the Jazz Square Celebration, we want to honor the history of the area, including the clubs, music, and musicians that have inspired communities around Jazz Square, the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Columbus Avenues in Boston. Of these Wally’s Jazz Cafe is to this day an important venue for jazz, improvisation, and community. Below are also some examples of key artists who were well known in Boston and Jazz Square and some examples of their compositions/music. These artists played at the clubs listed below, which were all located right around Jazz Square. You may take inspiration from these musicians and the complex history of the jazz clubs.

Jazz Square Clubs:

  • Eddie’s Cafe

  • Wally’s Cafe Jazz Club

  • Savoy Cafe

  • Hi-Hat Club
    ​

For more information on these clubs, check out the Black Artists of Boston webpage.

Jazz on Columbus Ave

Harriet Tubman House
(Stood at 566 Columbus Ave from 1975 - 2020)

​

Where once the Hi-Hat was, United South End Settlements built and operated the Harriet Tubman House in the years after 1975. In 2020, the Tubman House was sold and razed to make way for a new condominium building, with some community spaces. As part of the new construction, the Tubman House “Honor Roll Mural” by Jameel Parker from 1999 was preserved, portraying jazz musicians and making reference to the Hi-Hat.  

Beantown Jazz Festival
(2001-2019)

​

The Beantown Jazz Festival, once Boston's largest outdoor music event, began in 2001 organized by local entrepreneur Darryl Settles in order to support local music, especially jazz as well as local businesses. Held at the intersection of Columbus and Massachusetts Avenues, it became a staple of the city's jazz scene, drawing large crowds of up to 80,000 visitors each year. Berklee College of Music took over the festival in 2007 with Terri Lyne Carrington [Link to her page on Black Artists of Boston] as the artist director. They focused on expanding the festival’s scope and emphasizing community outreach. However, the festival ended in 2019 due to space constraints after renovations to Carter Playground on Columbus Avenue, which reduced the available area for the event. Berklee then shifted its focus to partnering with the Boston Art Music & Soul (BAMS) Festival in Franklin Park. 

Among the musicians who played at the Beantown Jazz Festival over the years were:

​

Selected Musicians
who played in the clubs of Jazz Square

Sabby Lewis

Years Active: 1935-1961

​

The Sabby Lewis Orchestra is one of, if not the biggest, orchestra’s in Boston’s history. In the early 1940’s, Sabby Lewis became the main star of the Savoy Cafe with a long history of different players coming and going throughout its history. His orchestra showed to Boston that the people would support a jazz-only club which helped the Boston jazz scene thrive. He left Savoy in 1949 and joined the Hi-Hat until 1961 where the orchestra disbanded.

​

Alan Dawson

Years Active: 1947-1990

​

Alan Dawson was a Boston based drummer and teacher and he was the foundation of Boston’s jazz Scene. He played for many big names in the Jazz scene such as Frank Newton in 1947 and Sabby Lewis until 1957. Alongside that, he was an integral part of Wally’s house band after leaving Sabby Lewis’ Orchestra until the mid 1960’s and continued his outreach into other neighborhoods around Boston. Alongside that he was also a teacher until old age, known for teaching Tony Williams of the Miles Davis Quintet.

​​

Mae Arnette

Years Active: 1952-1986

​

Mae Arnette, also known as the First Lady of Boston, was a very well-known vocalist in the 1950s. She played with many big trio’s such as Al Vega’s trio in the Hi-Hat and playing with Dean Earl at the Eddie’s Cafe. Eventually, she settled when she started playing with Wally’s houseband in the late 1950’s. She considered herself an entertainer, and that is shown throughout her whole career that continued into the 1980’s as continued her life as a vocalist while also dabbling in acting.

​

Al Vega

Years Active: 1938-2013

​

Al Vega was a very well-known Pianist in the Boston area and was an essential part of the Hi-Hat Club. The Al Vega Trio which consisted of Al Vega himself, Jack Lawlor and Jimmy Zitano were one of the first house bands for the Hi-Hat and were also the first Bostonian to record for Prestige records alongside Charlie Mariano in 1950. He was an integral part of the Hi-Hat until its closing in 1955. After the Hi-Hat’s closing, Al Vega went all around Boston with his Trio and became a big name until his passing in 2013.

​​

Fat Man Robinson

Years Active: 1948-1961


Paul “Fat Man” Robinson was a loved Saxophone Player throughout the Boston Area. His career started with the Fat Man Robinson Quintet in 1949, where he recorded his first and only record. He then moved to playing live in two clubs, Hi-Hat and Wally’s, with his orchestra. His Orchestra was well-known throughout the early 1950’s and he was a staple of the two clubs.He continued his lengthy career until he moved to Cleveland in 1961.

​

Solomon "Sonny" Carrington III

Years Active: 1960s-Present

​

Solomon “Sonny Carrington III is a well-known Saxophone Player in the Boston area. Having played with legends like James Brown, Stevie Wonder, and BB King and performing in his own Trio, The Carrington Trio, he continued his outreach throughout the Boston Area. He was the third president of the Boston Jazz Society and helped bring youth into the Jazz Sphere and helped Jazz stay influential. Alongside that, he played on his Daughter, Terri Lyne Carrington’s, Grammy Award Winning Album and also has made appearances on many other musical pieces until his retirement.

​​

Esperanza Spalding

Years Active: 2006-Present


Esperanza Spalding is a talented bassist, singer, and composer from Portland, Oregon. She is known for blending jazz and classical in creative ways. Her breakthrough album Chamber Music Society came out in 2011. The album made her the first jazz musician to win a grammy in the best new artist category. Her music combines complex rhythms and enchanting harmonies with poetic lyrics that explore identity and social justice. In addition to her music, she has taught at Berklee College of Music having a lasting impact on the jazz scene in Boston.

​

Other important musicians who played in the Jazz Square Clubs and the Greater Boston Area:

​​

  • Nat Pierce

  • Frank Newton

  • Serge Chaloff

  • Lloyd Trotman

  • Joe Gordon

  • Jimmy Tyler

  • Charlie Mariano

BJF-Logo.png

This Program is Supported in part by the Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture

bottom of page