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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.
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