The Tenderloin/Nob Hill area of San Francisco always had this mixed identity vibe where the upscale and the rundown co-exist, rarely yielding for an intimate and accessible yet thriving live music venue where jazz and related styles could find its devoted listener.

Recently, I had a chat with Les Cowan, first-time business owner and artistic director of Café Royale as we discussed how running this establishment has changed his life, enriched his appreciation for jazz music, and gave him a great social network of friends. He purchased this space three years ago, inheriting an existing jazz program ran by a previous owner. Once the entertainment license and soundproofing were in place, Les took the entire concept of an art/music café to a new level, providing the 'home' for various music and art programs.

Located on the corner of Post and Leavenworth streets, Café Royale occupies an unassuming space with high ceilings and a balcony stretching the entire perimeter of the joint. The centerpiece of the room is a round burgundy couch, bringing old charm and sophistication to the place. Floor-to-ceiling windows on one side provide lots of light and keep you connected to the vibe of the Tenderloin district.

The venue's Sunday Jazz Series is arguably the most established, long-running program, and has brought very prominent, local musicians to Café Royale; Scott Amendola, George Cotsirilos, Darren Jonhston, and Ricardo Peixoto have all performed here. Recently, Tango No. 9 had a huge crowd with lot of great tango dancers in attendance. The list of programs expands with Roots/Americana acoustic sets presented every Tuesday and Thursday, accordion nights with Rob Reich, monthly literary readings, comedy, and movie events.

In association with San Francisco Songwriters Coalition, Café Royale also hosts a unique program, "Conversations with Renee," hosted by KFOG radio DJ Renee Richardson, who interviews some of the best bands and singer-songwriters emerging within the vibrant Northern California music scene, followed by a performance by the artist. Condensed PodCasts of these events are available at the Local Scene section of the KFOG website.

Last but not least, every month the Café features works in various mediums by local fine artists, holding kick-off receptions on the first Thursday of each month.

Breakfast (noon to 3 pm), lunch (noon to 6 pm), and dinner (noon to 8 pm) menus are available with simple but delicious pizzas, Panini sandwiches, cheese plates and salads, all rounded up with an excellent selection of beer and wine as well as cocktails made with Sake and the popular national Korean beverage Soju.

Tourists, locals, and Academy of Arts College students alike seem to adore the idea of this versatile space where they can catch great free local jazz, bring a date, have a beer with friends or just grab a bite to eat while utilizing free Wi-Fi.

Recently, I had a great opportunity to bring my own music to Café Royale, and it was an unforgettable experience! This friendly and casual join truly makes a difference in San Francisco music scene.

When you book your table at Café Royale, please mention this article on JazzWest.com!

***

Café Royale is located at 800 Post Street (between Hyde & Leavenworth) in San Francisco. For reservations or more information, please call 415.441.4099 or visit the Café Royale website.

The jazz club scene in the Mission district of San Francisco has been less than lively since retro-modern Bruno’s Supper Club closed its doors in 2005. The tight-knit musical community that has been created there is back in town thanks to newly opened Coda Jazz Supper Club. Located in the North Mission, it perfectly re-captures the spirit of a hip restaurant/club where locals can catch a great jazz, have a delicious meal, or just get together with friends for cocktails.

It’s not a coincidence that the masterminds behind Coda — partners Chris Pastena, who is also a chef, and musicians Chris Arenas and Jeff Hanson — also ran Bruno’s back in its heyday. When Bruno's shut its doors, they felt that something really important was lost for the entire community of jazz fans and musicians alike. By opening Coda, they complete a full circle bringing that swinging energy back to the city.

Located on the corner of Mission and Duboce streets, Coda occupies an attractive, contemporary space with concrete floors, exposed brick walls and aluminum glass windows. Plush olive green curtains, mood lighting and original neo-noir avant-garde artwork by Georgianne Fastaia warm up the ambiance and create a bohemian vibe.

"We built the sound stage ourselves and worked with an acoustics engineer to create just the right sound here," says Hanson. Indeed, the studio quality sound is suitable for live-session recordings and the stage is large enough for a 12-piece band. Coda is a new home for 1956 vintage B-3 organ (truly a museum piece) which gets plenty of recognition and appreciation during Wednesday’s B-3 organ sessions. On Tuesdays, Adam Theis’s Jazz Mafia holds its weekly residency, and on other nights Coda features the best of local talent in bop, Latin, funk and hip-hop categories of jazz.

The magic of the place continues with its irresistible American Mediterranean cuisine. Innovative proteins like coffee-crusted pork loin with Jameson cream sauce ($18), miso fried cornish game hen with cole slaw ($14.50), and roasted halibut with soba noodles in a red wine sauce ($12) are offered a la carte with side dishes like sautéed broccoli rabe ($4), mixed summer squash with Japanese eggplant ($3.50) and truffled fried Kennebec potatoes ($5.25). The user-friendly menu is designed to fit large parties or complement an intimate cocktail outing.

"We wanted to take rules out of dining and without losing the formality of a sitdown dinner experience create a true a la carte menu so people can share plates and create a community within the table," explains chef Pastena.

An interesting and innovative aspect of Coda’s wine list is the selection of excellent wines ‘on tap’. Vintages like Truchard’s Carneros Chardonnay and Saintsbury’s Pinot Noir are purchased directly from wineries by the oxygen-free barrel instead of bottles, and available by the glass ($6.50-$12) or carafe ($26-$48). The wine list also offers over 20 well-selected French, Italian and California wines by the bottle, which bound to satisfy most discerning wine aficionados.

Just a little over eight weeks into its launch, Coda Jazz Supper Club has been lining up local musical heavyweights six nights a week, and is planning to open its doors on Mondays as well for some sit-in sessions. Finally, there is a place in San Francisco created for musicians and fans: classy and sophisticated yet without the high costs.

***

Coda Jazz Supper Club is located at 1710 Mission Street in San Francisco. Call 415.551.CODA (2632) or visit www.codalive.com.