S. Jackson St. and 12th Ave S.
The corner you are standing on at S. Jackson St. and 12th Ave S. was once the hub of a thriving after-hours jazz scene, a musical crossroads where in the 1940s Quincy Jones, Ray Charles and Ernestine Anderson, among others, honed their craft. The southeast corner housed the legendary Black and Tan, which opened in 1920 as the Alhambra Cabaret and lasted till 1969, hosting Eubie Blake, Louis Jordan, Lucky Millinder, sidemen from the Duke Ellington orchestra and countless other touring bands. On the northeast corner stood the Hill Top Tavern, and at Main St. was the Entertainers Club (later called Sessions), where in 1920 the great New Orleans piano “professor,” Ferdinand “Jelly Roll” Morton once held forth.
In 2020, the Jackson Street Jazz Trail Committee convened to create a series of markers outlining Seattle's historic jazz district, which ran from King Street Station, at Fourth Avenue South and South Jackson Street, to Washington Hall, at 14th Avenue and Fir Street. We are in the process of commissioning physical markers for each site, creating a self-guided tour. It will feature photos, text, music and spoken word, with links to deeper dives into Seattle's rich jazz history. Please check this site as we develop our online content and the trail itself.
Feel The Vibe
Contact Us
Would you like to leave a comment, volunteer, or make a donation?
Fill out our contact form.