Lucille’s Jazz Lounge thrives with live music from legendary musicians
Story and photos by Dave Yonke
TOLEDO – Like a Russian nesting doll, Lucille’s Jazz Lounge is tucked inside a coffee shop inside an industrial-looking social club just north of Downtown Toledo.
The entrance to the jazz club is on the side of Tolhouse, a members-only social club. Jazz fans must walk through the Earth Coffeehouse on Summit St. to reach Lucille’s.
Lucille’s is a cozy and classy club with a clear sightline, a good sound system and a solid lineup of musicians from near and far. Toledo’s jazz history is honored with framed photos of some of the city’s legendary jazz figures, including Clifford Murphy, Claude Black and Rusty Monroe.
Lucille’s opened Oct. 23, 2021 and quickly became a favorite of local jazz artists and aficionados.
Starting in January, the club has hosted a weekly Tuesday night show called Sessions, led by local jazz aces Gene Parker and Damen Cook and a variety of featured guests playing whatever songs they feel inspired to play.
“I think it’s fabulous and (club owner) Will Lucas is great. He’s got a winning concept here, he really does,” Parker said. “Other places, they push a few tables out of the way and they call it a jazz lounge. This is a real jazz lounge here.”
For the Tuesday night sessions, seating is on a first-come, first-served basis with a $5 music fee and a two-drink minimum per guest (alcohol is not required; drinks can be bottled water, cans of pop or mocktails). The club has a curated menu featuring everything from burgers and wings to salads, and an array of beverages from a full bar.
“We have rotating guests, like trombonist Ron Kischuk from Detroit here tonight, and we bring in guests from Detroit and Ann Arbor and Northwest Ohio,” Parker said. “Some people would never get a chance to play here otherwise. Maybe they don’t have a big name but they can sing or play an instrument and entertain the people.
“The first hour from 7:30 to 8:30 is the guest hour, with Damen singing and playing drums and I’m playing the Hammond B-3 organ. Then, after 8:30 it’s an open jam. People can come up and play, take over the B-3 – we have a guitar amp and mics. We’ve had pretty good luck with singers and guitarists.”
Among the recent scheduled jazz artists at the Tuesday sessions were trumpeter Ben Wolkins, guitarist Ariel Kasler and trumpeter Dave Kosmyna.
Parker, 81, still gets excited about jazz. He doesn’t play the saxophone much these days but is nimble on the organ, piano, vibes and other keyboard instruments.
Famed for not only performing but also teaching many successful musicians, Parker’s enthusiasm for jazz is always in high gear. He usually plays with eyes closed as he focuses on the music and his impressive improvisations.
“Oh I love it. Love it! It’s fun, fun, fun, fun, fun!,” he exclaimed.
Asked if he prepares a set list for the Tuesday shows, Parker laughed and said, “We just play what we like. I know about 10,000 songs.”
The Sept. 24 jazz session featured a string of standards, including Cook drumming while singing I’ve Got the World on a String and Old Folks, and the trio cranked it up for Groovy Sambas, a tribute to Brazilian jazz great Sergio Mendes, who died Sept. 5 from long Covid.
As with most jazz bands, the group performed in unison at the start and end of each tune, with each musician taking a turn on extended solos.
On weekends, Lucille’s hosts touring and top local and regional artists. Tickets are typically priced between $15 and $40 and must be purchased ahead of time. Many of the weekend shows sell out.
Upcoming concerts include vocalists Nicole Heitger, Ellie Martin and Lori Lefevre, Afro-Cuban jazz band Tumbao Bravo, blues artist Maurice John Vaughn, singer-songwriter Jo Serrapere, and former Murphys Trio pianist Johnny O’Neal.
“The value of music has changed,” Parker said. “You can’t give it away or the musicians won’t get paid. Music at one time was so popular because it was the only thing. There was nothing much on radio or television for a long time and people went out to hear live music.
“Now people have moved out to the suburbs and they go in their backyard and they barbecue and they watch TV and it’s pretty hard to compete with that. They really don’t need us anymore. Jazz records are like 1 percent of the market — and 90 percent of that is Kenny G,” he said.
“So now, more than ever, we need the people who support this and who like this music to come out. No matter what kind of music you like, come out and support the bands that you like,” Parker encouraged.
A full schedule of concerts with links to purchase tickets can be found at lucillesjazzlounge.com.
