Green Mill

Why has the Green Mill fallen!. The night started well enough, for a place that only takes cash and overcharges on drinks. The atmosphere was kind of somber, the tables were dirty, and the place lost its luster a long time ago. The manager came up to us; let us know that we should not be talking during the performance, trying to understand why he had picked us out in particular. He obviously felt that I was being loud trying to communicate with my cousin who has Down syndrome. I tried to communicate that to the Manager who insisted that it is the rules that people sit and listen without talking. I tried to explain that we were not being disruptive and that other people were talking too. The manager who stated his name and titled like he was the Vice President, this manager struck me to be intolerant of people with disabilities or just people trying to have a good time. The manager who insisted that he did not care that he might have been out of order and rude. So in this economy where people are trying to forget their worries and enjoy themselves should not have to face this type of intolerant yahoo. Avoid this piece of Chicago history if you can.…

The Green Mill is for real.. First off, for anyone who loves jazz, this is probably the best club in the country, not just Chicago. I find it funny some think it is pretentious of the owners to ask people to be quite during the music. There are decent breaks between shows and plenty of time for people to hang out, drink, and converse. If you are a musician you really appreciate the respect this club gives to musicians. If you are coming to have a drink and talk, there is plenty of room in the back to do that too. The thing about the Mill is that it is precisely NOT a church for jazz, but a real live jazz club where new and name bands are constantly experimenting. The history, the bar, the music and yes, the owners make this one of the hippest places anywhere.…

Phenomenal home away from home for Chicago jazzheads.. The Scene
The Mill's notoriety dates back to Prohibition, when Chicago gangsters used the club as a headquarters. With only passing regard to the featured attraction, young hipsters crowd the club these days, with fervent jazz lovers squeezing into the spaces between. This joint is almost always jumping, with top Chicago jazz bands during the week, local stars and visiting dignitaries for the weekend showcases, followed by jam sessions that run till 4am and 5am (Friday and Saturday, respectively).

The Draw
Despite the seedy neighborhood, the Mill has become the Chicago home for annual appearances by such national artists as sax player David Liebman, vocalists Sheila Jordan and Mark Murphy, pianist Henry Butler, and the Either/Orchestra. To ensure that you can actually hear the music you came to enjoy, arrive for the first set Friday at 9pm, or even better, Saturday at 8pm.…

Surly and rude. Although the music is good, this is one of the most uncomfortable bars in town. The doormen, bartenders and servers act as if they are doing you a favor by allowing you to patronize their establishment. When national acts perform, the employees demand silence. This is a BAR, not a cathedral.…