I enjoy live music. I particularly enjoy listening to jazz. Unfortunately, jazz clubs are a dying breed. I was pleasantly surprised to discover Wally’s Café in Boston during recent travels.
During my first visit, I was impressed with the character and vibe of the venue. With its very simple décor, Wally's Café is a perfect example of minimalism. There are a few tables, a bar, and a friendly bartender that spends most of his time bobbing his head and vibing to the music. There is no kitchen and no food, except for a few bags of potato chips that no one purchased. There is nothing to distract you from listening and engaging with the music.
This particular evening was funk night. The band was young, but their sound was mature. After their first set, the band leader informed everyone that they were students at Berklee College of Music, and judging by his accent, they were all from Eastern Europe. Diversity was prevalent amongst the crowd and the other musicians that took the stage later that evening. Wally's is a breeding ground for upcoming jazz artists. It is strategically placed near Berklee, which is one of the nation's premier schools for music geniuses.
There was no cover charge and there was no drink minimum. That evening, the place was packed. I stood directly next to the stage for nearly 2 hours, close enough to the keyboardist to decipher notes, chords, and progressions. Before leaving, I thanked the bartender/waiter/bouncer, and he graciously thanked me for being a patron.
Most importantly, the bartender and owner was a friendly black man that schooled me on the history of the establishment. He was related to the founder of the club. Wally’s has been black owned since 1947 by the same family – the oldest continually operating jazz club in the US. Please read this Wikipedia article for more background.
Wally’s Café is an amazing place, with an outstanding history. Please make a special effort to support the business while in Boston.
Wally's Cafe
427 Massachusetts Avenue Boston, MA 02118
617.424.1408