November 6, 2020

Exciting news! Parker Jazz Club will open its doors to very limited audiences this weekend, with live performances by the outstanding Parker Jazz Club House Band. Seating is available by reservation only. We will be offering an expanded menu of small plates and dinner features, as well as desserts, in addition to our extensive spirits and specialty cocktails.

FOR OUR GUESTS
Guests can expect a thoroughly sanitized and thoughtfully rearranged room that adheres to stringent health guidelines, including reservation-only, exclusive table seating, with all parties socially distanced. (No bar seating or ordering directly from the bar.) Staff will be outfitted at all times in PPE, and the club will be carefully cleaned and sanitized following each performance.

Parker performer, staff, and guest temperatures will be checked at the door. Anyone with a temperature 100.4 or above will not be permitted to enter the venue.

Parker staff will wear face masks and gloves, will maintain appropriate distance from guests and each other, and will observe increased cleaning and sanitation measures.

Parker guests are required to wear face coverings to enter the establishment.

Parker guests may temporarily remove their masks when *seated* and drinking and/or eating.

"We have worked hard for the last two years to bring you a great jazz club experience. This pandemic has made things difficult for all of us. In order for Parker Jazz Club to have a fighting chance of surviving this virus, we must open our doors and try to generate some revenue," says club owner Kris Kimura. "That being said, we are taking reopening very seriously. We would not invite any of our friends, supporters, or musicians in without taking all of the precautionary steps we can."

For all of our friends, fans, and family who still do not feel comfortable being out in public—we'll be bringing the band to you. Please view our livestream. You won't be able to sip a cocktail made by Jozi, but you can still enjoy the music in the comfort and safety of your home!

About Our Livestream
Parker Jazz Club has partnered with Texas Jazz Society to present an exclusive donation-based livestream channel delivering live jazz concerts online for everyone at home to enjoy. Please note that a full 100% of your tax-deductible donations will directly support the talented musicians and engineers showcased on our feed, which features state-of-the-art technology and production from Austin's finest listening room. Social distancing doesn't mean we have to give up the music we so love.

About Texas Jazz Society
Since 2018, Parker Jazz Club has led the effort to present only the finest jazz musicians and ensembles on a truly world-class stage in the heart of Austin’s renowned musical landscape. With these efforts and fantastic support, musician Kris Kimura was able to establish the Texas Jazz Society 501(c)(3), a nonprofit organization that seeks to preserve and promote jazz music. Through performances, clinics, and masterclasses, Texas Jazz Society entertains, educates, supports, preserves, and honors the tradition of jazz music.

To keep jazz alive and thriving in Austin, Texas Jazz Society and Parker Jazz Club are committed to providing an avenue for jazz musicians to earn working wages while sharing their art. Learn more or donate now.

May 19, 2020

Texas is one of 34 states gradually reopening various sectors of the economy, and Phase 2 includes the reopening of bars, which can operate at 25% capacity beginning this Friday, May 22.

Parker Jazz Club will be opening its doors to very limited audiences this weekend, with live performances by the Parker Jazz Club House Band on Friday, May 22 and Saturday, May 23. We will offer two sets each evening. Seating is available by reservation only.

"We have worked hard for the last two years to bring you a great jazz club experience. This pandemic has made things difficult for all of us. In order for Parker Jazz Club to have a fighting chance of surviving this virus, we must open our doors and try to generate some revenue," says club owner Kris Kimura. "That being said, we are taking reopening very seriously. We would not invite any of our friends, supporters, or musicians in without taking all of the precautionary steps we can."

Guests can expect a thoroughly sanitized and thoughtfully rearranged room that adheres to (and exceeds) state-mandated health guidelines, including exclusive table seating, with parties socially distanced; no bar seating or ordering directly from the bar. We will clear the entire club after each 90-minute set and will not re-open the doors until we've had the opportunity to clean and sanitize the entire space for the next audience. And of course our staff will wear face masks and gloves. We do recommend guests wear their own face masks, but this is not a requirement.

The Parker House Band will be the only band performing at the club for the next few weeks. We are trying to minimize the number of different musicians who are on the stage. We will be bringing in guest performers, but want to be as proactive as possible with all safety and health precautions.

For all of our friends, fans, and family who still do not feel comfortable being out in public—we'll be bringing the band to you. Please view our livestream. You won't be able to sip a cocktail made by Jozi, but you can still enjoy the music in the comfort and safety of your home!

March 16, 2020

Dear friends,
Parker Jazz Club takes great pride in providing not just a stage but a home for the local jazz community, which feels more urgent than ever right now. Yet despite our best efforts to minimize contamination and to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, we know the most effective thing we can do to help keep Austin healthy—including our musicians, technicians, bar staff, patrons, supporters, friends, and neighbors—is to temporarily close Parker Jazz Club, effective immediately.

As a family-based business, we value people above all else. My wife Jennifer sings on our stage. The club is named after our son. My sister runs our marketing. And the guys I play with, the people who come together with their prodigious talents to make extraordinary music night after night, are some of my best friends. We are a family—and we have to take care of each other and our community. We’ll get through this challenging time together by leading through our values.

This was a difficult decision to make, as it creates a different kind of hardship for some. Live music may seem like a luxury right now, but for many of our artists, it is their livelihood.

On that note, I’m excited to share some hopeful news: beginning this Friday, Parker Jazz Club will launch its own livestream channel to broadcast exclusive jazz performances in real time to music lovers in Austin and beyond. Featuring local musicians on the Parker Jazz Club stage, shows will be available for viewing through donation. All proceeds directly support the musicians and the club, helping to ease some of the financial burdens related to the ongoing pandemic. COVID-19 precautions and restrictions may create some social distance between us, but it can’t stop the music. This is Austin after all!

We wish you all good health. Please continue to take care of yourselves and the people around you.

Kindly,
Kris Kimura