Another victim of the economy: Café Maude’s jazz shows
Denis Jeong Plaster
Café Maude, which has offered live improvisational jazz free of charge every weekend since 2007, is turning off the music as of March 1. Bebopified reports that owner Kevin Sheehy is trying to keep the South Minneapolis restaurant afloat by not spending money on musicians and replacing the stage with more tables.
The end of Maude’s music isn’t the only blow dealt to live jazz in the Twin Cities this month. The Turf Club’s temporary closing and management changes led to the end of Fat Kid Wednesdays’ long-standing Monday night gig at the Clown Lounge. Local jazz lovers still have venues like the Dakota and Artists’ Quarter, but Café Maude and the Clown Lounge were reliable sources for weekly improvised music.
Shows will continue at Maude through February and will resume if Sheehy can figure out a way to make them cost-effective. Bebopified has more details and fond memories of the soon-to-be-silenced jazz nights.
