Uptown Jazz Co-Owner Excited to Host Bards & Brews Poetry Event on Friday, March 3

 

Photo credit: Nathan Watson of BhamNow. L-R are Uptown Jazz's co-owners:  Patrick Chatman I, Patrick Chatman II, Larry Forest and Rod Conwell.

What: Bards & Brews Open Mic Poetry Celebrates Women's History Month 

When: Friday, March 3, 6:30 p.m. Where: Uptown Jazz, 2250-B 9th Avenue North, Birmingham Details: Bards & Brews, the Birmingham Public Library's popular monthly spoken word poetry event, will celebrate Women's History Month at Uptown Jazz. The featured poet will be Blaque Diamond. During this open mic event, attendees are invited to share original works based on the 2023 Women's History Month theme "Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories." Bards & Brews is free. You must be 18 or older to attend, and 21 to buy alcoholic beverages at Uptown Jazz. After the spoken word poetry event, Uptown Jazz hosts a live performance (for a $20 cover charge) by The John Wilson Experience, a jazz saxophonist from Atlanta, originally born in Tuscaloosa.

About Uptown Jazz: Phone (205) 593-4003

Address: 2250-B 9th Ave. North, Birmingham, AL 35203 

Hours: Tuesday – Thursday, 5PM to 12PM; Friday – Saturday, 5PM to 2AM; Sunday, 1PM to 9PM Follow Uptown Jazz on Facebook and on its website

Birmingham, Ala. - Rod Conwell, one of four owners of Birmingham's Uptown Jazz Lounge, has been desiring to incorporate spoken word poetry into the new jazz venue located downtown. He gets his wish this Friday night, March 3, as The Birmingham Public Library is taking its popular Bards & Brews event to Uptown Jazz, 2250-B 9th Avenue North, for the first time.

Uptown Jazz is live jazz lounge that opened last fall in the Uptown entertainment district adjacent to the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 3. This Bards & Brews event will celebrate Women's History Month, and the featured poet will be Blaque Diamond. 

The theme of Women's History Month 2023 is "Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories." Bards & Brews invites talented spoken word artists to share original works and stories focusing on women and reflecting on Women's History Month. The event is free. You must be 18 or older to attend, and 21 to buy alcoholic beverages at Uptown Jazz. 

After the spoken word poetry event ends, Uptown Jazz will feature a live-performance by a jazz artist for a cover charge. 

In its 14th year, Bards & Brews has become known to unify Birmingham's arts community through the spoken word. Most monthly poetry events are held at the Birmingham Public Library, although sometimes it goes on the road like the upcoming March 3 event at uptown Jazz. 

As profiled in BhamNow last November, Uptown Jazz is Birmingham’s only jazz lounge, founded by four locals: Rod Conwell, Patrick Chatman I, Patrick Chatman II and Larry Forest. The four owners created Uptown Jazz in order to bring back the magic of the jazz joints that were popular in Birmingham in the 80s, 90s and 2000s—such as 27th Street Jazz, Grundy’s Music Room and Ona’s Music Room.

In a Q&A with BPL, Rod Conwell talked about Uptown Jazz and the venue's excitement to host Bards & Brews

BPL #1: For those unfamiliar, describe Uptown Jazz.

Conwell: UpTown Jazz Lounge is a Music Venue for relaxing and enjoying good music, good cocktails and beverages, and of course mingling with good people! It's Great for an individual to come down to Unwind after work, or for a Great Date night, or a group of friends/family/co-workers, who are wanting to enjoy the night and celebrate in a fun, festive and safe environment! 

 BPL #2 You mentioned to me earlier how you have wanted to incorporate spoken word poetry into the Uptown Jazz experience. How excited are you to host Bards & Brews for the first time this Friday?

Conwell: We are extremely excited to host Bards & Brews as our very first spoken word set!! One of the things we've been asked about the most since we've opened is, "Are you guys going to have Spoken Word? "Please let us know when you're going to have Spoken Word."

Spoken Word is a form of Music, with a slower cadence and melody, that happens to fit well into the Jazz Community. It was definitely a priority for my partners and I to bring Spoken Word to UpTown Jazz Lounge. So finally, we can give the people want they want!!

BPL #3: How often do you feature live jazz performances at Uptown Jazz (what days and times) and list some previous performers.

Conwell: We have live music performances every Friday and Saturday night, with doors opening for the show at 7:30pm and showtime starts at 9 p.m. Cover starts at $20 for most shows. We've been blessed to have all types of local, regional and national talent perform at UpTown Jazz Lounge in just the four short months we've been open, such as Long Time Birmingham based and favorites: KB's Technique, Charles Brown, & Sharron Collins.

UpTown Jazz Lounge Favorite Cashmere Williams from Tuscaloosa and Regional and National talent such as Tony Tatum from Atlanta and Jazz Drummer, Poogie Bell from Pittsburgh, who played for and with All-Time Greater Grover Washington. 

BPL#4: I understand you will have a live jazz artist this Friday after Bards & Brews. Who is it and what is the cover charge. 

 Conwell: This Friday night. Immediately following Bards and Brews, we will have performing live, The John Wilson Experience. John is a bad sax player currently in Atlanta, but originally from right down the road in Tuscaloosa. Doors open for show at 8pm, with Showtime at 9pm...Cover charge for the show is $20.

 Also know, on Saturday night, Mar 4th, we have one of UpTown Jazz Lounge favorites, and also a Tuscaloosa native, Cashmere Williams, performing at 9 p.m. Cover charge is $20. So back to back nights this weekend, we stay ready! 

 BPL #5: Have you ever attended the now closed Ona's Music Room - I was wondering if that venue inspired you and your partners to open Uptown Jazz? 

Conwell: Of course Ona Watson and Ona's Music Room was definitely a place we visited and loved to go, to get the same kind of vibes we are now making available to the public. I also remember Ona from waaayy back in the day, at a place called The Lion's Den that was located in Five Points South. Ona has been a staple in the Birmingham Jazz Community for decades and will never be forgotten.

 BPL #6: What can attendees expect at Uptown Jazz as Bards & Brews comes this Friday night (describe the mood and feel of the venue) 

 Conwell: The Vibe and atmosphere this Friday for Bards and Brews will be Electric!!! We are ready to hear and see some of Birmingham and the Metro Area's best as what they do, "speak their truth" and "deliver their message" that resonates with us all!!

  BPL #7: Anything else to add? 

Conwell: UpTown Jazz Lounge is open Tuesday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 12 .pm., with jazz & smooth R&B being played throughout the evening, with Happy Hours incorporated. We are open from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. every Friday and Saturday, again with Live Music performances every Friday and Saturday. 

We are also in the process of adding our Sunday Brunch Jazz Series, which should kick off in April. We will have Live Music Performances on those days as well. We also plan on doing Karaoke and more Open Mic nights. More information on that coming soon.