Charlotte is stepping up the live music scene with the opening of Uptown Jazz Club Middle C in the end of October.
Middle C Jazz, whose name references the central note on a piano, will open on October 31 at 300 South Brevard St. and will bring regional, national and international live jazz acts to the heart of uptown. The choice of name pretty much lays out the mission of this new Jazz venue ~ Middle C “aims to inspire every kind of music-lover. We will bring artists from the mainstream, smooth, contemporary/emerging, world, R&B/funk and legend genres to the heart of our hometown for live performances as vibrant as the city we love.”
The Space
The club is located on the ground floor of the 300 South Brevard St. building, a few steps down, with about 200 seats in an intimate, cellar-like space. Middle C will have a full bar featuring craft cocktails and table service, and also has a front patio, and parking (praise) in the deck for the building.
Importantly, at least to us, Middle C shares a hallway with The Public House, a chef-driven restaurant which will provide a menu of small-plate food offerings at every show. The dining experience promises to be legit, brought to you by veteran restauranteur Chris Healy (formerly of Davidson Street Public House and the Gin Mill), and former WBTV sports anchor and reporter Delano Little (who is also a partner in the jazz club).
The Vision
The vision of father-son duo Larry and Adam Farber, Middle C aims to create a new type of music experience for Charlotteans ~ for jazz fans, non-jazz fans, maybe even some self-proclaimed jazz haters.
Larry, a longtime local music entrepreneur with EastCoast Entertainment and private music club Music With Friends, along with Adam, a commercial real estate broker for Colliers International, created Middle C out of their passion for music and a shared love for their hometown.
Adam Farber explains “It’s a Jazz Club but it’s really about Live Music. Jazz has a different meaning for different people, and everyone has a different opinion on what Jazz is, or what they think Jazz is. We don’t want to point people in one direction or another, we want to provide wide range of different genres in jazz and different theme or set nights, and let people explore it and learn it and love it on their own.”
The Music
The Farbers expect to have 350+ shows a year, with several performances each week Thursday through Sunday. There’ll be an evening performance on Thursdays, two evening performances on Fridays and Saturdays, Sunday morning brunch performances and local blues artists on Sunday evenings.
The goal is to host regional performances most weeks, with at least one national performer each month. There will also be theme weekends ~ like a Stevie Wonder Tribute Weekend ~ to entice those light and non-Jazz aficionados into the live music scene at Middle C.
“We want Charlotte’s live music fans to have a venue they can really belong to – the kind of place that remembers your name and favorite cocktail but consistently offers something surprising,” explains Adam Farber. “We hope to create a new music district in uptown Charlotte.”
For example, on opening weekend, the Thursday and Friday shows are the HISTORY OF TANGO CONCERT WITH ALEJANDRO ZIEGLER QUARTET (Argentine Folklore Music and Tango) and the Saturday 11/2 shows are by MARIA HOWELL, a much-loved-in-CLT singer (and actress) born in Gastonia whose jazz is more in the R&B style. Tickets are available for a meet & greet with Maria, for those Charlotteans who have been following this performer’s career and would like a personal hello.
The first national act to perform will be 16 year old Indonesian prodigy JOEY ALEXANDER on November 23, who by age of 14 had already recorded two GRAMMY-nominated studio albums and who is a renowned jazz pianist.
Programming is curated by Middle C’s Director Jonathan Gellman, who long-time locals (or their parents) may remember as the owner / operator of the Jazz Cellar and restaurant at Jonathan’s Uptown in the 80’s and early 90’s.
Already confirmed to perform are:
- Maria Howell – 11/2
- Ziad Presents Al Strong – 11/21 & 11/22
- The Joey Alexander Trio – 11/23
- Gino Castillo and The Cuban Cowboys – 12/12 – 12/14
- Jazz is Phish – 1/11/20
- Chieli Minuchi and Special EFX – 2/19/20
- Steve Tyrell – 3/5 – 3/7/20 (this is the one for you Michael Bublé and Harry Connick Jr fans)
Check out the performance calendar thus far and get your tickets here.
Ticket prices will be set on a sliding scale depending on the artist and will be in the $10 to $50 range. Seating is open table & bar seating, with a mix of 2, 4, and 6 tops as well as about 20 seats at the bar.
How To Get the Best Seats
For the best access, you’ll want to become a “Baby Grand” Member. Middle C’s Baby Grand Members will get advance notice and pre-sale access to most tickets and advance seating for the shows, along with other perks.
The Membership Deal
The “Baby Grand” membership is currently available at a pre-opening price of $300. The regular price will be $450. With this membership, you will get:
- Early seating
- Discounted hotel rates
- Special membership pricing for all shows
- Complimentary evening parking (as available)
- Three-day early presale access for most shows
- Four ticket vouchers per year (up to $80 value)
- Complimentary Middle C-branded hat
- Members-only newsletter
- Personalized membership card
You don’t have to be a member, of course, as available tickets after the pre-access will be open to the public. But the Farbers know how to do memberships (see Music With Friends) and this one will be good.
It’s been a while since Charlotte has had a full time Jazz Club open (1993 in fact) and ~ don’t quote us on this ~ a full time higher end music venue with good food, full bar, PARKING and an elegant, cosmopolitan vibe. This club will be great for dates, of course, but also for just girls nights. You can park in the deck and literally ride the elevator straight down to the club.
We’re definitely excited about the opening of Middle C Jazz, and can’t wait to see you at the shows. Questions? Email the folks at Middle C at info@middlecjazz.com and buy your tickets or Baby Grand Membership now. And of course, don’t forget to tell them scoop sent you!
