  Designerguy24 Member Username: Designerguy24 Post Number: 56 Registered: 10-2006 |
Anyone ever been there? I really enjoy going there. It's not one of my favorite places to visit in Detroit | ||
Spitty Member Username: Spitty Post Number: 548 Registered: 07-2004 |
huh? I've been there. I enjoy it as well. It is one of my favorite places. | ||
Sharmaal Member Username: Sharmaal Post Number: 1051 Registered: 09-2004 |
Well where, praytell, are your favorite places to visit? I know when I visit Detroit I like to go to the Casinos, sometimes I'll go to Greektown for a little adventure. (Message edited by sharmaal on March 29, 2007) | ||
Danjo444 Member Username: Danjo444 Post Number: 27 Registered: 02-2007 |
Great place. A friend, RJ Spangler, has played there. http://www.cliffbells.com/inde x.html | ||
Psip Member Username: Psip Post Number: 1693 Registered: 04-2005 |
I stopped in there while at a FSC. WOW, the place is beautiful. Its like waking into a time warp. 1940's all the way daddy-o. I can't wait to spend an evening listening to cool clean jazz there. I believe the doorman said the kitchen will be opened latter this year. If I lived in that area, Cliff Bell's would become my afternoon/evening office. | ||
Johnfromsaginaw Member Username: Johnfromsaginaw Post Number: 76 Registered: 10-2003 |
Been there twice. Good music, reasonable drink prices -- I recommend it highly. John Plus, the wife is a big jazz fan. When momma's happy, everybody's happy. | ||
1953 Member Username: 1953 Post Number: 1339 Registered: 12-2004 |
Isn't it more 1930's? | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 320 Registered: 10-2003 |
Love the Cliff Bell's. I have nothing but the highest recommendation for it. Try to see the Gypsy Strings there, it's a night to remember. | ||
Danjo444 Member Username: Danjo444 Post Number: 28 Registered: 02-2007 |
This Sat night Kurt Krahnke, March 31 Kurt Krahnke is playing with his Jazz trio. A vet of several jazz fests in the U.S. and Europe, Kurt is an upright bassist who is absolutely amazing. He played at my wedding reception way back when, along with RJ Spangler. RJ played with Johnny Bassett, who's at Cliff Bell's April 2, and heads his own Group RJ and the Rhythm Rockers. Check 'em out when you can...amazing players. | ||
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine Post Number: 1557 Registered: 05-2005 |
is it still on the boycott list? I haven't been since the stupor-bowl | ||
Motorcitydave Member Username: Motorcitydave Post Number: 3 Registered: 11-2004 |
Love it, stop in there a couple times a week actually. Definitely one of Detroit's hidden treasures... although it isn't really remaining hidden for much longer, it gets more and more packed by the month.  | ||
Psip Member Username: Psip Post Number: 1694 Registered: 04-2005 |
1953, pre war 40's The place did open in 1935. I tend to think of the 30's as the depression and the early 40's as the rebirth. Maybe I am wrong. Its still beautiful. | ||
Jimg Member Username: Jimg Post Number: 817 Registered: 10-2003 |
I think it is more like a 30's club, although deco style was common to both decades. The interior more closely resembles club interior pictures from the 30s. Perhaps a student of Architecture can comment? | ||
Motorcitydave Member Username: Motorcitydave Post Number: 4 Registered: 11-2004 |
Love it, stop in there a couple times a week actually. Definitely one of Detroit's hidden treasures... although it isn't really remaining hidden for much longer, it gets more and more packed by the month. Hot Club of Detroit plays there every so often... if you like jazz guitar (Gypsy Jazz as it is refered to sometimes), or you liked the music in the Woody Allen movie Sweet and Lowdown with Sean Penn, then you will like this band. On Wednesday nights Cliff Bells has a 16 piece Orchestra that plays also... pretty cool to see in such a small place. (Message edited by MotorCityDave on March 29, 2007) (Message edited by MotorCityDave on March 29, 2007) | ||
Diesel Member Username: Diesel Post Number: 10 Registered: 01-2007 |
Cliff bells is great on a regular night. Every once in a while they charge a pretty steep cover $20.00 which to some may be worth it depending on the musical act but I'm not going to spend that much. Paul has done a great job with the place. | ||
Downtown_remix Member Username: Downtown_remix Post Number: 102 Registered: 03-2007 |
Detroit has been through alot in the past 100 years. It's amazing growth and culture left behind a number of amazing "gems" that dot the entire city. Cliff Bells and it's re-opening to our current growth trend reigns as my favorate bar and club EVER | ||
Gannon Member Username: Gannon Post Number: 8837 Registered: 12-2003 |
I love Cliff Bells. One of the music videos submitted for the Detroit Film Center's Low Budget competition was from the Hot Club of Detroit fellows, I think. They featured the club, and really put together a well-produced HOT video...which will be rescreened at a near future date, check with the DFC to see when you might view it. Someone once said Cliff Bells was like walking into the bar from the movie The Shining...decor-wise. If they are charging $20 cover, you can be certain the jazz is worth it! Cheers. | ||
Korridorkid Member Username: Korridorkid Post Number: 85 Registered: 01-2005 |
Some may resent this comment...But IMHO I think it has the atmosphere and the vibe to become to Detroit, what the Green Mill is to Chicago. Now Im a fan of Baker's as well, don't get me wrong, and I'm distinctly aware of it's well-deserved proper place in Jazz History, but Detroit could always use another Jazz-Mecca. Cliff Bell's in it's total perspective, i think has great potential to be another must-stop venue for current Jazz headliners. Maybe i'm off a bit, but regardless, it's a hep swinging joint. | ||
Jeduncan Member Username: Jeduncan Post Number: 84 Registered: 11-2006 |
I loved the place. great atmosphere, drink prices are.... I don't remember, I was half in the bag, and the music was great... ambient but mesmerizing. | ||
Gannon Member Username: Gannon Post Number: 8844 Registered: 12-2003 |
Cliff Bells is for the FIRST date and special events like celebrating that first date, BERT'S is after you're in a relationship or for solitary pleasure. The continual intimate discovery sitting in front of Bert's Open-Mic stage on Thursdays and Fridays never ceases to amaze me...last week, I finally got to talk with an archtop guitarist I first caught at Cliff Bells. He sat in with that amazing Hammond B3 player when they played Cliff Bells...damn cannot remember his name. Amazed to learn that he is self-taught on his axe, just like me. He helped encourage me to finally take mine out of my bedroom after seventeen years. Maybe one day. BTW, those music videos will be screened TOMORROW at the DFC, check their website for more information. Damn, I've got to get my speakers back up there...MAXPRAXIS, put on your superhero suit! | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 481 Registered: 02-2007 |
bump | ||
Bobj Member Username: Bobj Post Number: 1868 Registered: 11-2003 |
Going there tonite with a group of 12. About half the folks are regular Cliff customers, the other half rarely venture into Detroit. So we will see how it goes. I love the place | ||
Rhymeswithrawk Member Username: Rhymeswithrawk Post Number: 590 Registered: 11-2005 |
I think I would live there if it weren't part-owned by Mr. Greedy Sonovabitch. | ||
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1 Post Number: 8791 Registered: 10-2003 |
Anyone know why the band is always on the side and not on the stage? | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 326 Registered: 10-2003 |
Hmm, all the times I've been there the band has been on the stage. Of course, I was always seeing the Gypsy Strings so that may be why. | ||
Farrer Member Username: Farrer Post Number: 603 Registered: 12-2003 |
Hmmm..... RJ Spangler....is that Bud Spangler? Former half of the drummer tandem of CJQ (a primary musical vector within the former Strata Corporation, a polycultural/multimedia group from the early 70's based in the Corridor at the time)? Strata also had a record label, I believe...perhaps Tribe. CJQ consisted of Ron Brooks, Kenny Cox, Ron English, Charles Moore, Danny Spencer, Bud Spangler and others. Kind of a Cobb's Corner era corridor tribe band | ||
Irish_mafia Member Username: Irish_mafia Post Number: 850 Registered: 10-2003 |
No, That would be Rick Spangler, one of the founders of the Sun Messengers and previous to that, he was in boy scouts with me...a long time ago. Glad to here it is going well for him Danjo444. Tell him that an Irishmen says hi. | ||
Jimg Member Username: Jimg Post Number: 818 Registered: 10-2003 |
Rick (RJ) is Bud's nephew. Don't forget Bud's tenure as PD for 'DET until he move to San Francisco around 1975. A grand fellow, still beatin' up his tubs and promoting jazz gigs... CJQ recorded for Blue Note late 60s, very much influenced by Miles with a generous helping of 'Trane... Many Tribe LPs will be reissued overseas, probably this year if the deal is sealed... | ||
Soulhawk Member Username: Soulhawk Post Number: 299 Registered: 04-2004 |
I know that the Japanese label P-Vine has started reissuing some Tribe stuff. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 331 Registered: 10-2003 |
Kurt Krahnke trio last night was fantastic. Wish they could have gotten their volume up a bit, the place got pretty loud once it packed up later in the evening. Tad Weed on keys is always a wonder to watch and hear. Bobj, hope you and your group had a good time, we definitely did. Probably saw you there and didn't know it! Had dinner at Union Street beforehand, always delicious. Just smack anybody who says there's nothing to do in Detroit. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 335 Registered: 10-2003 |
 This is what you missed if you weren't there. I posted a picture without a flash because I feel that the colors and blurs of no flash capture live jazz better than a flat static image. | ||
Jimg Member Username: Jimg Post Number: 819 Registered: 10-2003 |
That's a fine photo, Johnlodge. Tad also plays every Wednesday at Baker's. Coming soon to Cliff Bell's: vocalist Aria Hendricks (daughter of the legendary Jon) acc. by the Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra, Saturday, April 21. Scott is crafting some new charts for the occasion. This should be really good. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 336 Registered: 10-2003 |
Yes I see Tad at Baker's now and then. Unfortunately, I have a certain dirty habit which has recently been outlawed at Baker's everywhere but in the bar, from where you can only watch the band on a small crappy closed circuit TV. One of us is going to have to give in. Hopefully it will be me. ;) | ||
Pffft Member Username: Pffft Post Number: 1249 Registered: 12-2003 |
No smoking in Baker's main room anymore? I'm there! | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 337 Registered: 10-2003 |
Yep you got it Pffft! Enjoy your catfish in peace. |
