Jazzland

Back in 1972, when Jazzland first opened its doors, the local jazz scene was small and, largely, underground. From the start, our policy of teaming international stars and our own home-grown jazz talent had a decidedly fertilizing effect on Austria's jazz scene, helping establish jazz, a decidedly twentieth centry form, as a key feature in Viennese cultural life.

In addition to just about every Austrian musician of note, more than three hundred American stars have appeared in the Jazz cellar under the Ruprechtskirche: blues legends Roosevelt "The Honeydripper" Sykes, Memphis Slim, Big Joe Williams and Little Brother Montgomery; classic jazz names Wild Bill Davison, Bud Freeman, Max Kaminsky and Jimmy McPartland; swing greats Teddy Wilson, Clark Terry, Harry "Sweets" Edison and Benny Carter; modernists Art Farmer, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Ray Brown and Herb Ellis;even such out-and-out avant-gardists as Dave Liebman, Lee Konitz, Paul Motian and Bob Brookmeyer.

Our abiding wish here at Jazzland remains unchanged: to present the whole spectrum of jazz, from strict, precisely structured forms to total freedom. Indeed, even those aspects and styles usually overlooked or neglected in these accelerated times get new and careful attention on our bandstand.

And lest we forget, Vienna is a gourmet's city. It's only fitting that no visitor to Jazzland ever goes away hungry. We offer a menu of solid Viennese cuisine, with all the trimmings - mouth-watering Wienerschnitzel and Cevapcici, delicious noodle dishes, traditional deep-fried cheese, and of course our famed - some might say notorious - bean goulasch, a house specialty and perennial favorite with our guests.

We keep our wine list small and select. Especially recommended: our superb draught wine, supplied by Franz Grill of Fels am Wagram (famed also for his smooth and tasty apricot brandy), as well as bottled vintages from the Berger vineyards of Gedersdorf. A full choice of domestic and international spirits rounds out a gastronomic selection that elevates Jazzland well above the usual jazz club fare.