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The
critics review the Firefly Club
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| Hazen
Schumacher Former host of the nationally syndicated "Jazz Revisited" radio program. |
The Firefly Club is roomy, has a warm ambiance, great acoustics and a fine sound system. Its greatest asset, however, is its owner-manager Susan Chastain. She's a good judge of talent, a charming hostess, a competent short-order cook, a skillful electronics technician and a first-class jazz singer. She's the twenty-first century equivalent of Texas Guinan, Sophie Tucker, Julia Child and Peggy Lee rolled into one. Hazen Schumacher |
| Metro Times | Low
lights, cool jazz Located in the former digs of fellow jazz hang The Bird of Paradise, Ann Arbor's Firefly Club is a snazzy jazz bar that exudes an understated elegance. It's nostalgic. It's inviting. It's oh so satisfying. The perfectly lit room radiates in soothing lilac and purple. From the exposed brick, the votive candles, the deco-influenced decor, and the rich velvet curtain graciously draped behind the stage, the Firefly Club is a thoroughly warm and pleasant venue.But it's more than that, really. The Firefly Club delivers a touch of sophistication with a casual, comfortable vibe. Adding a special whimsical touch, a sculpture of intertwined brass instruments graces the entrance.Above all, The Firefly Club is an exceptional listening room. People go there to listen. Bistro tables face the live music, which tends to be blues and jazz, with occasional folk and acoustic acts. Guitar combos, brass ensembles, vocalists, pianists and guitarists are all found on the Firefly's diverse lineup. |
| Detroit FreePress |
The Lowdown: Wish you'd been there in jazz's heyday, catching the greats in smoky Greenwich Village coffeehouses? Well, you can't go back, but Ann Arbor's new Firefly Club does its best to resurrect the feeling of urbane cool that jazz legends and myths are made of. Atmosphere: Subdued, subdued, subdued; quintessentially cool for cats. Patrons sit at low tables, candles flickering, paying rapt attention to the stage. "Everybody comes for the music," says Lucas Bott, a manager. "The Firefly's got a really good feel, and everybody has a good time." Decor: Dim and comfortable. The prevailing color scheme is deep purple, silver and black; architectural features include an exposed-beam ceiling, exposed brickwork and an expanse of windows facing Ashley Street. The thematic homage to jazz continues through each decorative element -- the clarinets and saxes dangling from the walls, the faux-abstract expressionist painting and the offbeat entryway sculpture made from recycled trombones. Crowd: A world away from the college-saturated bars and clubs on virtually every corner in Ann Arbor. Attendees here are older and much more reserved. How many places can you go where most people actually sit in near-silence and listen to the band? At the time of our visit, the crowd ranged in age from 30s to 50s and was about two-thirds male. |