green lady lounge; 1809 grand kcmo

kansas city is rich in the history of jazz music. 18th and vine was the penultimate landing spot for so many of the great musicians throughout the early 20th century. in 2013 a new and exciting spot for kc jazz opened and now sets the tone for the underground.

the green lady lounge at 1809 grand, in the heart of the crossroads, is a mysterious red awning at face value. once inside, you will not be disappointed. opening at 4pm (2pm on saturdays) and closing at 3am throughout the week, green lady has continuous music playing throughout.

downstairs you have a quaint seating area draped in red velvet, lit by candles across tables. table service is available for drinks from the eclectic menu. i was very happy with the manhattan as was a friend with his dry grey goose martini. the food options are very minimal, but that is not why you come here. the bands play in an accommodating stage set area as you enter from the stairs. any seat is a good seat. no visual needed as the music can be heard very well from any table. a couple of good 3 piece local bands played throughout our time downstairs.

upstairs there is a full service bar and table service to the half moon booths across the north wall. the bands sit right inside the door as you enter making for a welcomed surprise if you have never been here before. we were subject to a phenomenal 3 piece that included drums, an organ and a vibraphone. i can't express my enjoyment enough on sitting through this set. the drummer was top shelf and the addition of vibraphone was a.m.a.z.i.n.g. very pleased.

this is a late night spot i would recommend for any scenario if you are in the kcmo crossroads for nightlife or looking for something to do as a traveler into the city.