Get out your jazz hands and gather your drinking buddies, with Jazz Fest's great list of partnered stages around town there's a slew of affordable after-parties and pre-show soirees to choose from. Essentially this week it's all jazz, all the time. Check out live music listings on page 19 for daily details, and here are a few of the stages we're just jazzed about.
Elephant & Castle Pub and Restaurant
5171 George Street, 405-8875
The Retrospect, The Blown Gasket Orchestra, Asia & Nu Gruv and The Synchronics are just a few of the great acts taking over the underground for E & C's jazz series this week.
Stayner's Wharf Pub & Grill
Halifax Waterfront (bottom of George Street), 492-1800
Really, this dockside hangout has great jazz every week with regular performers like Jeff Goodspeed in the mix. But during Jazz Fest, on top of nightly jazz performers the Stayner's Light Night Quartet plays from 11:15pm-2am welcoming elite sit-ins to jam.
Jamieson's Irish House and Grill
5 Cumberland Drive, 433-0500/p>
This Dartmouth scotch drinker's heaven is serving up dinner and jazz, where for just four bucks added on your bill, you can see folks like Cheryl Edgett, Daniel Matto and Silvio Pupo as you dine.
Onyx
5680 Spring Garden Road, 428-5680
Onyx's super classy candle-lit atmosphere, and dressed to the nines staff certainly feel jazzy to us. Wednesday's they welcome jazz performers like Bill Stevenson and Geordie Haley to the stage, offer half priced appies and no cover charge. Even better? Bring your own bottle of wine: there's no corkage fee.