Boston audiences appreciate jazz and they’ve got the venues
that are ideal for showcasing international talent. In
Cambridge, you’ve got your choice of two lovely hotel
settings. Scullers Jazz Club, located in the Doubletree Guest
Suite Hotel, overlooks the Charles River. Scullers Jazz Club
offers dinner-club packages, but most people come to the posh
club to hear such musical legends as Nicholas Payton and Eartha
Kitt.
Scullers, Doubletree Guest Suite Hotel, 400 Soldiers Field
Rd., 617-562-4111
Regattabar
Located inside the Charles Hotel in Cambridge, the Regattabar
is another upscale, pricey club that offers a more diverse,
wide-range of musical styles, from world music, to blues and of
course, jazz. Regattabar attracts an older, quieter audience,
who nonetheless appreciates the intimate setting and up-close
views of the artists. Blues legend Ruth Brown and Latin star
Tito Puente have played to sold-out crowds at the Regattabar.
Regattabar, Charles Hotel, 1 Bennett St. Cambridge,
617-661-5000
Rock/Pop Music
There’s plenty of bars to catch your favorite local
musician, but when it’s time to see a national headliner, join
the other fans at the Fleet Center, the Orpheum, or, in the
spring and summer, the BankBoston Pavilion.
Fleet Center
Join the over 20,000 frenzied fans at the Fleet Center. The
mammoth Fleet Center showcases national headliners such as Bruce
Springsteen and the Rolling Stones. The seats are comfortable,
and the sound quality is good. True sports fans mourn the former
Boston Garden, but now the Celtics and the Bruins play at the
totally modern Fleet Center, complete with luxury boxes, plenty
of concession stands, the Sports Museum of New England, and
countless other niceties.
Fleet Center 150 Causeway St., 617-624-1000
Orpheum Theater
This 2,800-seat house is a bit worn, but the acoustics stand
the test of time and is still a good place to see a show. The
crowds are boisterous and enthusiastic and sometimes it seems
like the balcony is bouncing. The Orpheum has seen a diverse
range of musicians, from gospel, to pop, to world music and
alternative. Recent offerings include rock and pop heavyweights
like Linda Ronstadt, Hole, and members of the Buena Vista Social
Club.
Orpheum Theater, 1 Hamilton Place, 617-679-0810
BankBoston Pavilion
Imagine seeing your favorite artist while sitting oceanside,
underneath a blanket of stars. A giant white tent on the
picturesque waterfront welcomes you to enjoy such diverse acts
as Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, and Ray Charles. Magnificent
harbor, ocean breezes, and skyline city views surround the
BankBoston Pavilion. The Pavilion concourse features a variety
of food and beverage choices (and of course the chance to buy a
T-shirt) as well as an open strolling area to view Boston's
skyline.
BankBoston Pavilion, 290 Northern Ave.617-728-1600
