Sunol Jazz Cafe- a friendly, affordable place for jazz

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 Tucked into the canyons surrounding Highway 84 in the eastern San Francisco Bay Area is a charming throwback to the days of the Jazz Age- the Sunol Jazz Cafe. Owned and operated by local realtor Gerarda Stocking and her family, the Jazz Cafe offers live music and dancing every Tuesday evening from 7:30 - 10:00 PM.

The Jazz Cafe features the Chris Bradley Traditional Jazz Band, a Dixieland-style band, on the second and fourth Tuesdays, and the Jambalaya Swing Orchestra, an 11-piece swing orchestra on the first and third Tuesdays. Fifth Tuesdays, such as last night, are made up of a combination of local musicians from various bands, and provide a mixture of songs from the swing era and the traditional jazz of the 1920s. The Cafe is also available for special events.

The Jazz Cafe is divided into two separate parts- a small, cozy cafe in front and a larger event center in the rear. The cafe is open from 7:30 AM to 3 PM daily and also stays open until 10 PM on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. The cafe offers a menu that includes such fare as sandwiches, bagels, scones, coffees etc. When live music is performed in the Event Center, the Jazz Cafe also offers a dinner menu for approximately $12 per person.

Containing several small tables, comfortable chairs and a small stage complete with grand piano, the cafe room is reminiscent of a large living or family room and exudes a cozy ambience to its patrons. The Sunol Event Center, whimsically named 'La Bodega', is a large room with a dance floor, bandstand and space for fifteen or so tables. A wine bar is in the back of the room, where patrons may order a variety of beverages. Built of wood, the accoustics are pleasing and the room provides plenty of space for dancing without feeling too cavernous. Last night, there was not a single tune where the dance floor was not filled with couples enjoying the sounds of the musicians.

Once upon a time used as a grocery store and a biker bar, the Jazz Cafe has been remodeled into an attractive, comfortable place for listening to and dancine to jazz music. The staff are extremely friendly and the food is both affordable and very palatable. I highly recommend the Bourbon Street Parade bread pudding- delicious! The Jazz Cafe is entirely a family-run operation, with Ms. Stocking and her family doing the cooking and providing the service. This gives the Jazz Cafe a comfortable, 'family' feel that is too often lacking. The Cafe does ask for a five dollar donation to help cover the travel costs of the musicians, but the food is so reasonably priced that one can enjoy an evening of dinner and dancing for under twenty dollars per person, which is extremely rare these days. When combined with the ambience and the friendly service, the Jazz Cafe provides an excellent value in a time when value is ever more important to many consumers.

The Sunol Jazz Cafe is located at 11984 Main Street in Sunol California. To get to the Cafe from San Francisco, take Highway 680 to Highway 84 West. Watch for the second right and follow Main Street to the Cafe, which is located at the western end of Main Street. From San Jose, take Highway 680 north to Highway 84 West.