Courtesy of Brownstone Jazz Club
As Minneapolis’ Uptown neighborhood has waxed and waned in vigor over the past decade or two, residents, business owners, and community stakeholders keep brainstorming: How can they help the area, once a reliable nexus of nightlife in the Twin Cities, find its way again?
One answer, says local R&B musician Johnnie Brown, is bringing back live music venues. “Music is really one of the things that’s missing,” says Brown, who’s been part of the Minneapolis jazz and R&B scenes for 16 years. “I really want to give young artists a place to play—I want to share the stage with them.”
To walk the walk, Brown is behind Brownstone Jazz Club, an intimate new venue (with old-school vibes) in a historic building at the corner of Hennepin Avenue and 28th Street in Uptown. Brown and his team are currently hosting shows and private events at the club and are planning for a grand opening in late February. Brown’s own ensemble, the Johnnie Brown Experience, serves as a kind of house band—a group of elder statesmen that set the tone and offer guidance. “But I really want to attract other local artists and artists from out of town, too,” Brown says. He’s adamant that the venue isn’t meant to be a showcase for his own music, but a place to shine a spotlight on others and cultivate a sense of neighborhood belonging.
Courtesy of Brownstone Jazz Club
He’s especially passionate about giving young, up-and-coming musicians—and musicians of color—a platform, in an industry where getting a foot in the door can feel almost impossible. “I want them to know that they can call on the venue owners, that we will give them respect,” Brown says. “There can be so many hoops to jump through to book a gig, and that’s not a nice feeling.”
Brownstone Jazz Club has room for about 140 guests, making it a happy medium size on the spectrum of Twin Cities venues, like the venerable Dakota and the newer Berlin, which seats 85. The Brownstone bar will offer high-end cocktails and food, and Brown and his team plan to ask for lots of ideas and feedback on how the club can serve the neighborhood; potential concepts include Sunday brunches with gospel music, themed parties, and more. Brown says, “We need the community to get behind us so we can create a real hub and take this to the next level.”
Brownstone Jazz Club, 2756 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; brownstonejazzclub.com
