Courtland Club Expands with Monthly Thursday Night Live Jazz Series
The cozy West Side spot is known for its Sunday Jazz nights, and has just announced a brand-new monthly series called "Expansions."
Leland Baker Trio at Courtland Club. Photo by Jamie Coelho.
If you love live jazz in an intimate, low-lit setting with photo-worthy cocktails and incredible food, make your way to Providence’s Courtland Club. The cozy West Side spot is known for its Sunday Jazz nights, and has just announced a brand-new series called “Expansions,” which is all about bringing top-tier talent from all over to perform locally.
The series kicked off on September 25 with a performance by a Hartford-based drummer named Jonathan Barber and his Trio. Barber, who has played with everyone from Erykah Badu to Pat Metheny, is widely recognized as one of the leading drummers in contemporary jazz, which is the exact type of artist Courtland is aiming to highlight with this new event.
Each Expansions night will offer two seatings at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., with doors opening at 5 p.m. Guests can book a table reservation in advance or come by last-minute to secure limited bar seats (first-come, first-served). Either way, you’ll get access to the club’s full dinner and drink menu, making it a top-notch night out right in the neighborhood.
Courtland Club’s reputation in the jazz scene is already impressive. The bar was named Best Jazz Venue in Rhode Island by Yankee Magazine and Best Local Jazz Night by Rhode Island Monthly, and its Sunday Jazz series took the stage at the sold-out 2024 Newport Jazz Festival. Past special events have included off-site shows with The Sun Ra Arkestra and Shabazz Palaces, which drew more than 600 fans to The Met in Pawtucket.
The venue’s food and drinks have earned just as much praise as the music. Courtland was a James Beard semifinalist for Outstanding Bar in 2024. In 2025, Chef Nikhil Naiker, the creative force behind its in-house kitchen NIMKI, was recognized as a finalist in the Emerging Chef Category.
Upcoming Expansions dates include the Cameron and Conway Campbell Trio on October 16, Gregory Groover Jr. on November 20, and George Garzone on December 18. Reservations for each show open a few weeks in advance, so mark your calendar and set a reminder. These events are likely to sell out quickly.
Courtland Club, 51 Courtland St., Providence, 401-227-9300, courtlandclub.com
For reservations or more details, reach out to the General Manager, Pamela Carrol, at pam@courtlandclub.com.
