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Jazzy With A Twist
Cafe Jazzy Rose is a Jazz Age restaurant & elixir lounge that offers dine-in and to-go services for lunch and dinner. Our menu celebrates iconic jazz locales, while our botanical, zero-proof, mood-enhancing cocktails offer a distinct, dreamy experience.
St. Louis Cotton Club Band
While Harlem’s Cotton Club captured the world’s attention, St. Louis’ jazz scene during the 1920s bridging the gap between the ragtime of Scott Joplin and the emerging “Hot Jazz” style.
Captured here by the famed Block Brothers Studio, the band represents the vital “Riverboat Jazz” culture that traveled the Mississippi, turning St. Louis into a major crossroads for American music. They proved that the heartbeat of Jazz was just as strong in the Midwest as it was on Lenox Avenue.
While the Harlem Cotton Club is world-famous, this St. Louis ensemble was a powerhouse in its own right, later evolving into the world-renowned band led by Cab Calloway.
Formed in St. Louis around 1923, the group originally went by several names, including the Jazzy Syncopators and, later, The Missourians.
In 1927, they moved to New York to tour with Ethel Waters. When they took a residency at the famous Savoy Ballroom in 1928, they were often called the “original Cotton Club orchestra” to distinguish them from Duke Ellington’s group.
In 1930, after being led intermittently by figures like reedist George Scott, Cab Calloway assumed permanent leadership. This band became the foundation for Calloway’s legendary orchestra.
Notably, the ensemble includes one female musician. While often identified by historians as the legendary Ethel Waters—who the band began touring with in 1925—she may also be one of the many unsung women of the St. Louis jazz scene whose names were often left out of the official records of the time.
Captured here by the famed Block Brothers Studio, the band represents the vital “Riverboat Jazz” culture that traveled the Mississippi, turning St. Louis into a major crossroads for American music. They proved that the heartbeat of Jazz was just as strong in the Midwest as it was on Lenox Avenue.
While the Harlem Cotton Club is world-famous, this St. Louis ensemble was a powerhouse in its own right, later evolving into the world-renowned band led by Cab Calloway.
Formed in St. Louis around 1923, the group originally went by several names, including the Jazzy Syncopators and, later, The Missourians.
In 1927, they moved to New York to tour with Ethel Waters. When they took a residency at the famous Savoy Ballroom in 1928, they were often called the “original Cotton Club orchestra” to distinguish them from Duke Ellington’s group.
In 1930, after being led intermittently by figures like reedist George Scott, Cab Calloway assumed permanent leadership. This band became the foundation for Calloway’s legendary orchestra.
Notably, the ensemble includes one female musician. While often identified by historians as the legendary Ethel Waters—who the band began touring with in 1925—she may also be one of the many unsung women of the St. Louis jazz scene whose names were often left out of the official records of the time.
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday changed the art of jazz singing forever. She didn’t just sing a song; she lived it, using her voice like an instrument to manipulate phrasing and tempo in new ways. Her deeply personal and often haunting delivery brought an unmatched emotional depth to the Great American Songbook, turning every performance into a raw, honest conversation with her audience. Despite facing personal and systemic hardships, she used her platform to perform “Strange Fruit,” one of the first and most powerful protest songs of the Civil Rights Movement. Her legacy remains a testament to the power of vulnerability and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
Stan Getz
Known for his lyrical, breathy tone, Stan Getz was one of the most influential tenor saxophonists in jazz history. While he rose to fame in the bebop era, Getz became a global household name for introducing the world to Bossa Nova. His melodic style—often described as pure and effortless—offered a cool, sophisticated contrast to the high-energy sounds of his contemporaries. He was a master of the “West Coast Cool” sound, famously collaborating with Brazilian legends to create hits like “The Girl from Ipanema.” His ability to make the saxophone sing earned him the nickname “The Steamer” for his seamless, flowing technique.
Duke Ellington & His Famous Orchestra
Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington didn’t just lead a band; he played the entire orchestra like a single instrument. By the mid-1930s, Ellington had moved beyond the “Jungle Sounds” of the early Cotton Club era to create a style of jazz that was as elegant as it was revolutionary.
Featured here is Ivie Anderson, the definitive Ellington vocalist who introduced the world to the anthem “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing).” Alongside her are the virtuosos who defined the Ellington sound—Sonny Greer on drums, Johnny Hodges on sax, and the growling brass section that made the Duke’s music unmistakable. Together, they turned jazz into “American Classical Music,” proving that the dance hall could be just as sophisticated as the concert hall.
Featured here is Ivie Anderson, the definitive Ellington vocalist who introduced the world to the anthem “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing).” Alongside her are the virtuosos who defined the Ellington sound—Sonny Greer on drums, Johnny Hodges on sax, and the growling brass section that made the Duke’s music unmistakable. Together, they turned jazz into “American Classical Music,” proving that the dance hall could be just as sophisticated as the concert hall.
Cootie Williams
Charles “Cootie” Williams was the definitive voice of the Duke Ellington Orchestra’s brass section, world-renowned for his vocal-like growls and masterful use of the plunger mute. This candid shot captures the raw energy of the Savoy Ballroom—Harlem’s famous integrated dance hall—where the music never stopped and the dance floor was a rare beacon of integration.
As an Ellingtonian cornerstone for over twenty years, Williams transformed the trumpet into a vehicle for emotive storytelling. His technical brilliance and ability to shift from a gritty growl to a brilliant, open-horn tone made him one of the most influential soloists of the Swing Era, proving that a single trumpet could command the attention of a room of a thousand dancers.
As an Ellingtonian cornerstone for over twenty years, Williams transformed the trumpet into a vehicle for emotive storytelling. His technical brilliance and ability to shift from a gritty growl to a brilliant, open-horn tone made him one of the most influential soloists of the Swing Era, proving that a single trumpet could command the attention of a room of a thousand dancers.
Fats Waller
Thomas Wright “Fats” Waller was the larger-than-life clown prince of jazz, but beneath the comedy was the mind of a musical genius. A master of the “Harlem Stride” piano style, Waller used his powerful left hand to create a rhythmic “oom-pah” foundation while his right hand danced with intricate melodies. He was a prolific composer, responsible for jazz standards like “Ain’t Misbehavin’” and “Honeysuckle Rose,” songs that defined the joyful, swinging spirit of the 1920s and 30s.
Beyond the keyboard, Waller was one of the first African American superstars to find massive crossover success in radio and film. He brought a sense of theater and joy to jazz, often winking at the audience while performing technically impossible piano runs. His legacy is one of pure infectious energy, reminding us that while jazz is high art, it is also meant to be a celebration.
Beyond the keyboard, Waller was one of the first African American superstars to find massive crossover success in radio and film. He brought a sense of theater and joy to jazz, often winking at the audience while performing technically impossible piano runs. His legacy is one of pure infectious energy, reminding us that while jazz is high art, it is also meant to be a celebration.
Dizzy Gillespie
John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie was the intellectual heart and exploding energy of modern jazz. With his trademark bent trumpet and puffed cheeks, Dizzy moved jazz from the dance halls to the concert stages, replacing simple melodies with complex, lightning-fast harmonies and rhythms. He was the primary architect of Bebop, a style that demanded virtuosity and transformed the musician into a serious artist.
Beyond his technical brilliance, Dizzy was a global ambassador for music. He was a pioneer of Afro-Cuban Jazz, famously fusing American swing with the powerful percussion of the Caribbean to create a brand new, “Pan-American” sound. His playful stage presence and iconic beret and horn-rimmed glasses became the uniform of the “cool” generation, making him one of the most recognizable and beloved faces in the history of the genre.
Beyond his technical brilliance, Dizzy was a global ambassador for music. He was a pioneer of Afro-Cuban Jazz, famously fusing American swing with the powerful percussion of the Caribbean to create a brand new, “Pan-American” sound. His playful stage presence and iconic beret and horn-rimmed glasses became the uniform of the “cool” generation, making him one of the most recognizable and beloved faces in the history of the genre.
Hoagy Carmichael
Hoagy Carmichael was the master of the Hoosier jazz sound—relaxed, soulful, and deeply melodic. Unlike many of his contemporaries, who stayed in the big city clubs, Hoagy’s music felt like a warm breeze from the Midwest. He composed some of the most recorded songs in history, including the immortal “Stardust,” “Georgia on My Mind,” and “The Nearness of You.”
Hoagy was a unique figure in the Jazz Age: a law student turned jazz pianist, songwriter, and film star. His lazy drawl and casual piano style masked a sophisticated harmonic mind that influenced everyone from Duke Ellington to Ray Charles. To listen to a Hoagy Carmichael tune is to experience the nostalgic, bittersweet heart of American music.
Hoagy was a unique figure in the Jazz Age: a law student turned jazz pianist, songwriter, and film star. His lazy drawl and casual piano style masked a sophisticated harmonic mind that influenced everyone from Duke Ellington to Ray Charles. To listen to a Hoagy Carmichael tune is to experience the nostalgic, bittersweet heart of American music.
The Harlem Cotton Club
The Cotton Club was more than just a nightclub; it was the “University of Jazz.” While it operated under a policy of segregation, it was the world’s most prestigious stage, where legends like Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway became household names. Through a live radio wire broadcast directly from the stage, the club transformed local “territory” bands into national superstars, allowing the music to reach millions of homes.
The club was a cultural paradox—a symbol of the Jim Crow era that simultaneously provided a platform for Black excellence to reach a global audience. For the musicians, this neon-lit doorway represented success as a hard-won triumph over a system that celebrated their art while segregating their person.
The club was a cultural paradox—a symbol of the Jim Crow era that simultaneously provided a platform for Black excellence to reach a global audience. For the musicians, this neon-lit doorway represented success as a hard-won triumph over a system that celebrated their art while segregating their person.
Erskine Tate's Vendome Orchestra
Erskine Tate’s Vendome Orchestra was a cornerstone of Chicago’s jazz scene, proving that jazz could be as sophisticated and precise as a classical symphony. Operating as the resident “pit band” for the Vendome Theatre, this ensemble provided the live soundtrack for silent films, blending high-brow orchestral arrangements with the “hot” improvisational jazz emerging from the streets.
Known for their impeccable discipline and technical mastery, Tate’s orchestra became a proving ground for future legends. It was in this very group that a young Louis Armstrong refined his skills, moving from the riverboat style to the polished, world-class virtuosity that would eventually make him a global icon. Their legacy remains a testament to the era when jazz first became the “classical music” of the American city.
Known for their impeccable discipline and technical mastery, Tate’s orchestra became a proving ground for future legends. It was in this very group that a young Louis Armstrong refined his skills, moving from the riverboat style to the polished, world-class virtuosity that would eventually make him a global icon. Their legacy remains a testament to the era when jazz first became the “classical music” of the American city.
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