There was a time when there were jazz joints all over the place in and around Boston. OK, that time was the 1950s, and though there’s still a handful of clubs and rooms and lounges featuring America’s indigenous music, many more venues have closed than are currently open. But there’s a (relatively) new place in town – in Brookline, in the basement of the American Legion Post 11 – that’s become a space for jazz lovers – both players and listeners – and has gone about it with some innovative ideas.
Called POSTunderground, the room in the basement at 386 Washington St. is a perfect place to hear jazz. There are seats around square tables, which are topped with tablecloths and electric candles; curtains cover the walls; the bands play on the floor – level with listeners – and the acoustics are terrific.
It was the idea of American Legion Commander (and jazz lover) Elmon Hendrickson, who presented it last fall to John Purcell, a Newton resident, alto saxophonist, guitarist and Brookline Music School jazz/rock coordinator who put together the venue's first performance this past January.
The innovative ideas? There’s no admission charge and there’s free food.
Purcell’s live performance résumé includes lengthy gigs at the Plough & Stars and at Ryles, and he’s been a member of the White Heat Swing Orchestra since the 1980s. Through his job at Brookline Music School, he’d been using the basement space at the Legion post for end-of-semester recitals, which is how he came onto Hendrickson’s radar.
“He saw me bring in numbers of kids and adults who could all play music, and he wanted to start opening up the space to the community,” said Purcell. “He wanted to create two events, one on Fridays and one on Sundays. So he got in touch with me and said he’d like me to provide some music. Of course, it still has to function as a veterans post, so I set up and break down before each event.”
Those events have similarities and differences. Both include straight-ahead jazz, with sets comprised of pieces from the Great American Songbook as well as original jazz compositions and even some blues. But the Friday night shows, dubbed Standards by Starlight (8-11 p.m.), feature Purcell’s own quintet, with him on alto and, unless they have previous gigs, Phil Grenadier on trumpet, Matt Marcus on piano, Greg Conroy on drums, and a revolving array of bass players.
“We are the house band,” said Purcell. “It’s an idea from the glory days of jazz. If you have a good house band, it attracts good musicians to come in and play after hours, so we can bring in featured artists. That means every Friday it’s different because you never know who’s going to drop in.
“We do the same sort of thing on Sundays with the Sunday Jazz Hang (3-6 p.m.),” he added, “but it’s a different house band. I’m on alto, and we have Juliet Eastland on piano and Simone Cooke on drums, and I hire some other young musicians. The idea for Sunday was to do the same thing as on Friday, but with aspiring jazz players.”
The main draw from the start has been the free music. Purcell points out that the most important thing to him is that the audience understands what they’re hearing, that they have a very clear starting point of a song so they can then follow what each musician, in turn, does with it.
“The thing I’m happiest about is that people come there to really listen, and the music means a lot to them,” he said. “I credit that to the American Songbook and the great local musicians in the community.”
Though most of the players are different on Sundays, “it’s still standards and jazz compositions,” said Purcell. “For aspiring jazz players it’s equally important to learn these songs and as an improviser, understand that you’re using them as a starting point, and you want to be able to develop them in your own direction.”
The other main draw – after the free music – is the free food.
“It’s pizza,” said Purcell, then went on to explain, “Sharing a meal is the most fundamental form of human interaction. Food brings people together. Even if it’s only pizza, it does the job. And if it’s not free, then it’s just another restaurant. If you have a cover charge for the music, then people who may not have a lot of money can’t come in or can’t afford to eat the food there. Our model is to gather the community with great live jazz and free food and excellent prices at the bar (which is closed on Sundays) and open it up to everybody to just walk in.”
Of course, there are costs involved. There’s a nominal rental fee for the room, the house band musicians get paid, and someone has to buy the pizza.
Purcell explains: “I’ve had two generous Brookline families helping with funding, and we hope to have others helping out. Our website now has PayPal on it and I’ve started lining up what we call the PayPal Post Pizza Patrons, through which people can set up donations toward pizza. And we have the Post Box at the venue where people can make donations right there.”
On top of all of that, there’s even more free music.
“I also wanted to give other local musicians a chance to play,” said Purcell. “So, on Fridays there’s Set One, from 7 to 8 p.m. We have four different bands who have a regular once-a-month slot for that first hour. We hope to start doing that soon on Sundays, too.”
POSTunderground, at the American Legion Post, 386 Washington St., Brookline, features free jazz and free food every Friday (8-11 p.m.) and Sunday (3-6 p.m.), as well as Set One on Friday (7-8 p.m.). The closest T-stop is Brookline Hills on the Green Line. Info: www.postunderground.com.
Upcoming concerts and club dates
Aug. 10:
Pop singer-songwriter Lisa Loeb makes a tour stop at The Center for Arts in Natick. (8 p.m.)
Blues guitarist Seth Rosenbloom returns to The Burren in Somerville. (7 p.m.)
Jimmy Buffet and the Coral Reefer Band are ready for their annual visit to Xfinity Center in Mansfield. (8 p.m.)
Veteran Boston troubadour and guitarist Jim Kweskin comes back to Club Passim in Cambridge. (8 p.m.)
Americana husband and wife duo The HawtThorns perform selections from their debut CD “Morning Sun” at Atwood’s Tavern in Cambridge. (4 p.m.)
Aug. 13:
Singer and multi-instrumental jazz player Leni Stern brings her trio to Guitar Sessions at Berklee Performance Center in Boston. (7:30 p.m.)
Former Creedence frontman John Fogerty celebrates “My 50-Year Trip” at Rockland Trust Bank Pavilion in Boston. The Allman Betts Band opens. (7:30 p.m.)
Aug. 14:
Rock-country-blues-garage guitarist Deke Dickerson plays at Once in Somerville. Also on the bill: Bloodshot Bill, Jittery Jack, and Easy Ed. (8 p.m.)
Aug. 15:
Former Pentatonix member Avi Kaplan shows off his folky side at The Sinclair in Cambridge. (8 p.m.)
Ed Symkus can be reached at esymkus@rcn.com.