The Bassment - Chicago — Local services in Chicago

I recently had the opportunity to visit The Basement, a jazz bar located in the heart of Chicago. As a fan of live music and the jazz genre in particular, I was eager to experience what this venue had to offer.

Let's start with the positive aspects. The live jazz band at The Basement truly knows how to captivate an audience. Their energetic performances, infused with soulful melodies, created an electric atmosphere that jazz enthusiasts would undoubtedly appreciate. The talent displayed by the musicians was undeniable, making it an enjoyable experience for music lovers.

However, it's important to address a couple of notable drawbacks. The noise level at The Basement was quite high, which, while adding to the lively ambiance, could potentially be overwhelming for those seeking a more relaxed atmosphere. Additionally, the pervasive scent of marijuana might not be everyone's cup of tea. While I understand that such an atmosphere can be part of the jazz scene, it's worth considering whether it aligns with personal preferences.

Turning our attention to the pricing, it's fair to say that The Basement leans towards the higher end. The drink prices were a bit steep, which could be a deterrent for patrons on a budget. Furthermore, the $10 cover charge can add up if you frequent the bar often. However, it's worth noting that The Basement offers an alternative to avoid the cover charge: bottle service. While this option allows you to bypass the cover charge, it comes at a significantly higher cost, starting at $250 for bottle service. This may appeal to those celebrating special occasions or seeking a VIP experience, but it might not be feasible for regular visits.

In summary, The Basement is a jazz bar that thrives in delivering an engaging and vibrant experience to jazz enthusiasts. Its talented live jazz band provides an electrifying atmosphere, albeit at a volume that might be too loud for some. The presence of marijuana smoke could be an acquired taste, and the higher drink prices and cover charge may deter those on a budget. Nonetheless, if you're willing to immerse yourself in the jazz scene and don't mind the associated drawbacks, The Basement is definitely worth a visit for a memorable night...

Most important thing: go here on Friday nights when Angela Martin ft. Verzatile band are playing. They are extraordinarily talented jazz musicians and cover hip hop/rap/top 40 covers from the 70s-2000s. They take requests, and they do them damn well. Angela Martin is a powerhouse vocalist and a great hostess. She goes around to the tables and asks for requests and birthdays etc, trying to get people up and dancing. First set is at 9pm and dancefloor can be kind of empty, but second set is at 10:30 and that's the best time to get there in my opinion. I go strictly on Friday nights to see Verzatile, they are fantastic.

For the most part, I like this place a lot. Unique drinks (but expensive as hell). The look & feel is really cool: looks like a jazz club or lounge in some basement, but there's a bunch of British stuff decorating down there so it's as if the club is in some basement in London. There's lots of couches as well, but most of them are reserved for bottle service, which is a minimum $1200 for the night. Otherwise there's pretty much no seating. They have a $10 cover after 9pm. I always get there early but you can reserve your spots for the night (or a table) online at the bassment's website. Because it's expensive and more loungey crowd can tend to run older, I would say most people are...

Myself and my wife had a bachelor/bachelorette party here and were extremely disappointed. The party cost was in the 100s. Drinks were mixed terribly and tasted awful. Staff were not nice at all. Went outside for a cigarette at one point and when I went to reenter the premises I was told that we had been kicked out, reason for this is still unknown to me. It was about 12 at night at this point and we live about 40 minutes from the city and were expecting our transport to arrive at 1. My wife needed to use the bathroom very badly and they would not allow her back in to use it. Bare in mind me and her were both outside when out party was "kicked out" and neither of us was very drunk. The doorman laughed and told her to hold her pee until she got home which was ridiculous. He laughed again when she was crying in pain from the urge. Another doorman came out who was a little bit more understanding and after I had explained to him our situation he allowed us to reenter so that she could use the bathroom. When we got inside we saw that half our party was in fact still there and had not been kicked out at all. The band aying that night were very good and the only redeeming factor to me. I would 100% recommend passing on this venue...