Green Mill Jazz Club, Chicago

For Chicago, it doesn't get any better. Stronger music scene in New York but Green Mile is my jazz club in Chicago. Drinks are reasonable. Decor is nice.

Saw an ad for Chicago legend Willie Pickens in the Metromix and figured out how to get there from downtown on the subway($2). It's right across the street from the Red Line stop at Lawrence Ave. This place is the absolute real deal. It is exactly what you expect and want a jazz club to be. Affordable cover ($12), killer band (Quintet), great drinks and a true Chicago character that owns and runs the joint. He likes it quiet when the band plays and the place was full of respectful listeners. The decor is right out of the 40's and 50's and if you want to go where locals go for real Jazz in Chicago, this is the place. Make the effort, you won't be dissapointed.

if i die and go to heaven then i will be at the green mill for eternity getting drunk with jesus and watching the cubs in the afternoon and listening to jazz all night.

i had an excellent evening at the green mill - a perfect place for a fun evening of music and friends.

i work with alejandro escovedo and the band was in chicago for three sold out nights. after one of the gigs some of us took a cab from our hotel to the green mill for jazz and cocktails. this was my first time there. a couple of the guys in the band had been there before and said it was the best jazz club anywhere. that's all it took. we arrived about 12:30-1:00 a.m. and the place was packed. a big guy at the door greeted us and collected 5 bucks from us and we headed to the bar. the place was swinging. not just the jazz, but the talk and the energy of the people there was electric. and the jazz. dios mio, there was a quartet with a hammond b-3, two tenors and a cat on the skins. the tenors went head to head, chorus after chorus. one after the other blowing with all the force of a strong wind coming in over lake michigan. snagged a place at the bar and had excellent drinks. i mean these guys can do it right. stayed till almost closing and then a cab back to the hotel. and another show for us later the same night. one of the best clubs anywhere. hands down.