I’ve always been fascinated with the art and music that came out of Harlem during the Renaissance and, for the last few years, I’ve been quick to tell anyone who would listen how Memphis is on the verge of its own renaissance. As world renowned as our city is, most of the best artists here are young unknowns (or barely knowns) and every Sunday you can find a growing number of us socializing at The Hi Tone for Night Time Jazz Brunch, or Jazz Nite for short. 
With free admission, decent food, and great vibes, it feels like a home for us who’ve felt overlooked, overworked and without many establishments that give us a steady place to congregate. So we come sit at the L Table (an invention of mine) and discuss love, life, and death and everything in between, sometimes over a game of spades or a Scrabble board, and other times (most times) over a drink or two. This is not to say that Jazz Brunch isn’t welcoming to the non-initiated – every week there’s a new table of folks who don’t seem like they’d be there if it wasn’t for the jazz, yet make a habit of telling me how much fun they had and how this reminds them of some small club they visited in some bigger city.
As of now, I’ve been curating a line of DJs who appreciate Jazz music enough to spin for 5 hours for little pay. We all know that they deserve more but, man, the chance to spin JAZZ for a young, hip crowd without everyone throwing their bacon and eggs at the stage is too rare to pass up. Some DJs are braver than others and play a mostly golden era of jazz set (Miles, John, Dizzy) while others like to show how jazz has evolved over time and space (Ethio-Jazz, modern R&B, and sample-heavy Hip Hop) but everyone’s been good sports and delivered sets unique enough to keep the crowd excited for what the next Sunday will bring.
Eventually (maybe by October) I’d love to add a local band or two who can hit all the right notes while leaving space for the conversations to take place. Until then, we’ll keep dancing, eating, and drinking while the DJ spins Sun Ra into Sade and thanking tHi Tone bartenders for the stiff drinks.
Night Time Jazz Brunch is every Sunday at The Hi Tone Cafe. Brunch starts at 5pm. Music from 7 to ’round about midnight.
You might also be interested in: Memphis Live Music Calendar
