Live Jazz in the Basement Since 1991
All seating is first come, first serve. Reservations are neither required nor available.
Guests 21 and up only.
DAILY HOURS
Monday-Friday 5p - 2a
Saturday 8p - 2a
Sunday 7p - 1a
$7 Cover charge Tuesday-Saturday starting at 8pm
No Cover on Sunday and Monday
315 Congress Ave.
The Historic Swift Building
Austin, Texas
Management: aaron@elephantroom.com Music Booking: Mike@bbabooking.com
Call or Text 512-575-2925
Formed by Austin drummer Kevin Witt, B-Side Quartet performs a mix of deep-cuts from the hard bop jazz era from Monk, Miles , Joe Henderson and Wayne Shorter, original compositions, and unique arrangements from a wide selection of genres and influences including Stevie Wonder, Al Green, Bjork, Michael Jackson, Radiohead and more....
“Sarah Sharp's soft-spoken singing style and quiet instrumentations offer a living room, fireside closeness that keeps her away from the lounge-singer stereotypes of similarly jazz-influenced performers." — @nprmusic, All Songs Considered
The Sarah Sharp Quartet performs every Tuesday evening in the basement, featuring John Fremgen, Masumi Jones, Oliver Steck, and Mitch Watkins.
Joseph Serrato brings his quintet back to the basement.
Mesmerizing and Endlessly Surprising - a songwriter's songwriter. Playfully prodding the human condition through an idiosyncratic pop ingrained with folk and NOLA jazz instincts, the singer/guitarist/pianist tosses off tunes with a mixture of simplicity and gravity." - Austin Chronicle "Tone poems - a cure for auto-tune" - no depression "A prolific singer-songwriter who draws heavily upon jazz overtones, Marks makes music that is refreshingly all over the map" - Austin American Statesman
Jazz Times Magazine says of Kim and Bill, "This kind of chemistry only comes along once in a blue moon. Think Joe Pass and Ella Fitzgerald in their classic Pablo encounters in the early '70's . . . with a modern twist."
Henri Herbert Trio brings stride and boogie to the basement.
Michael Mordecai has been hosting his Monday Night Jam since 1980. When the Elephant Room opened in 1991, the JAM found it's permanent home in the basement. Many Austin Jazz greats cut their teeth at this unassuming Monday night hang where "the old pro's and the young lions mix licks". You just never know who might show up or what musical jam moment might spark the next cool collaboration.
Fireball front man Jon Blondell gets the jam going early leading his own group—featuring Dr. Jim Rose—for a fun repertoire of songs from all over the musical spectrum brought to the jazz stage as only Blondie can do.
At 13 Mitch started playing guitar with a surf band in McAllen, Texas. Years later he's traveling the world on multiple tours with Leonard Cohen. You're gonna want to hear the sounds that have endeared this master guitarist to so many and who Jazz Times Magazine calls "a man for all musical seasons".
Composer, arranger and a top flight trumpeter, Mike Sailors lead his 9 piece band to the basement.
The Mike Sailors Nonet, labeled an "All-Star outfit" by the New York Times after their performance at the NYC Winter Jazz Fest, plays all original compositions and arrangements from Mike Sailors. Featuring the likes of Diego Rivera, Elias Haslanger, Andre Hayward, Daniel Dufour and other top call Austin Jazz musicians, this band is sure to keep your toes tapping all night. Nine great musicians on stage playing adventurous jazz music with no net!
Trumpeter and vocalist Dr. Shane Pitsch leads a stellar sextet of A-list Austin musicians (Eric Hargett, Brian Pardo, Ben Irom, Billy Satterwhite and Mike Gordon) performing a mix of his own blues-based jazz originals, along with some choice standards and covers.
“Sarah Sharp's soft-spoken singing style and quiet instrumentations offer a living room, fireside closeness that keeps her away from the lounge-singer stereotypes of similarly jazz-influenced performers." — @nprmusic, All Songs Considered
The Sarah Sharp Quartet performs every Tuesday evening in the basement, featuring John Fremgen, Masumi Jones, Oliver Steck, and Mitch Watkins.
CenterPeace performs the music of James Polk, the true Godfather of Austin's Jazz scene who made his mark on this town before most of the local jazz artists were born. His music continues to set the standard for Austin jazz at its best!
Elena Diaz is a jazz vocalist with an ability to transform any song into a sweet, touching tune that will move audiences in all contexts.
Bassist and Vocalist Jeremy George and his quintet brings lots of musical variety to the stage! From jazz to soul and a touch of R&B classics you don't want to miss this show!
Jazz Times says of this veteran pianist, “In addition to a fertile imagination, precise technique and subtlety, Peggy Stern demonstrates consummate artistry...every note she plays makes sense. Stern has her own voice — she extracts a lovely timbre from the piano…refusing to waste notes... Everything she writes wants to dance...”