Savoy Restaurant hosts Jazz on Mondays

[Charlie G. Sanders]

My friends and fellow lovers of jazz,

As I’m sure many of you are already aware, I have had the pleasure of creating a jazz night every Monday, starting at 5pm, at one of the most exciting new restaurants in the city, Savoy.

To date, Savoy has hosted 5 Mondays (the first, on August 15, was a preview party).  The first 3 (including the Aug 15 event) were very well attended and everyone I spoke to had a great time and applauded the addition of a jazz night to the Savoy experience.  The last 2 nights, as far as attendance goes, were disappointing at best.  Personally, I am not discouraged by this fact because I don’t believe it is due to inferior product (some of the world’s best jazz artists are being featured each week) , poor venue (Savoy has consistently been voted top honors for excellent food, environment and service since opening in May of 2011) or lack of audience (Pittsburgh has a rich history of Jazz venues that have been well  attended by those who love the city’s rich jazz history; such notable Pittsburghers like Dr. Harry Clark, founder of Capa High School), rather, it is the fact that this is a new venture and many in the jazz community are still not aware of how special a night it is, if they even know about it at all (it’s only been a little over a month, and we are still working to get the word out). 

However, here is the problem; it appears that Savoy management might see the low attendance of the last 2 jazz nights as indication that there might not be the audience or the market for Jazz at Savoy on Monday afternoon/evening and might consider making a change or cancelling all together.  My firm belief is that to change it or cancel it now would be a huge mistake because what is in place now is just what the Pittsburgh Jazz audience has been waiting for and have felt was missing since James Street and the Balcony (as evidenced by the raves of approval by those who have attended any of the nights so far). There just has not been enough time for the word to get out to the entire Pittsburgh Jazz community.  Consistency is the key and if we start altering any part of the format (which is not the problem) we run the risk of sending mixed and confusing signals to the audience we are trying to reach. 

To prove to Savoy management that Monday night jazz at Savoy deserves every chance it can be given to show how much the Pittsburgh Jazz audience will and does appreciate it, I need all of you to make a major show of numbers on the 3 remaining Jazz Mondays this month.  And if there are any nights you can’t attend to be sure to encourage someone else you know who loves great jazz to get to Savoy to support some of the best live jazz in town; in a venue whose style and warmth is the perfect setting for it.

If you loved, and miss jazz nights at James Street and the Balcony, you owe it to yourself to check out what Savoy has to offer and once you see that the spirit of these great venues lives on at Savoy, support it as much as possible.

And I, Charlie G. Sanders, promise to do everything I can to keep it as wonderful a jazz experience as possible, at one of the most exciting new venues in the City; Savoy.  See you there!

FYI:  Sean Jones is the featured guest artist performing with the Roger Humphries Trio on Oct 10.

If you have any questions or comments, please email me at [e-mail].