San Jose sessions

Your jam session info hub

This section includes sessions in the near vicinity of San Jose from Sunnyvale down to Santa Cruz and all points south.

Five Points, San Jose

When: Monday jazz session 8-11pm

Where:Five Points Bar 169 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose 408.982.5816

Host: Rotating, expect tons of SJSU characters

Session FB link here. Send a review!

Good musicians, rotating every week. The crowd is SJSU-based, especially when the hosts went there. 21+ only. (updated Apr 2019 by DF)

The SJSU cats continue to gather with their various projects on Mondays. No word on whether they still welcome strangers. Calling ahead wouldn't hurt, at all. [Updated Sep 2024 by SJ]

Woodhams, Santa Clara

When: Mondays 8-11pm

Where: Woodhams Sports Lounge, , 4475 Stevens Creek Blvd, Santa Clara 408.247.3144

Host: Jimmy Tone & JSL Project

Weekly jams are back at Woodhams, which is undergoing something of a re-brand. Send a review! [Updated Sep 2024 by SJ]

The Quarter Note, Sunnyvale

When: Sunday (8pm), Monday (8pm) and Thursday (8pm) nights

Where: The Quarter Note, 1214 Apollo Way #409 (next to Lawrence Expwy), Sunnyvale 408.732.2110

Host: Varies

This is a blues-rock Jam night and a legendary place for guitar-slingers to show their stuff, and maybe less so for horns. Zoo-like atmosphere at times and rock-n-roll is always available on the menu. Please send reviews to let us know what's playing these days.

Jams still going per calendar. Venue FB page here, with an entry from Aug 2024 actually BEGGING for horn players to show up to jams with a free cocktail as enticement. [Update Sep 2024 by SJ)

Little Lou's BBQ, Campbell

When: Thurs (and occasional Wed) blues jam 7:30-11pm
Where: Little Lou's BBQ,

Host: varies

Blues session was well-established before it moved to Lou's. The jazz session no longer appears in the calendar. Jams may be pre-empted by sports broadcasts. Check the calendar, and send a review!

The Note Lounge, Milpitas (formerly Blue Note)

When: Tuesday blues session 7:30-11pm

Where: The Note Lounge, 765 E Capitol Ave, Milpitas 408. 262. 8363

Host: Gleidson Sousa

Tuesdays jam still going, with recent mentions (Aug 2024) per host FB page. [Updated Sep 2024 by SJ]

The Sand Bar (formerly Fog Bank), Capitola

When: Pro Blues Jam Sunday evenings 7-11pm, other formats occasional Thursdays

Where: The Sand Bar, 211 Esplanade, Capitola 831.462.1881

Host: Dennis Dove, John Michael, other rotating hosts

Dennis always serves up a great time, whether at Fog Bank, Little Lou’s or Murphy’s Law. He wants everyone to have FUN ! I did, and I support his other gigs. His crew is guitarist Johnny Cat, Admiral Stuart Horton, Oliver Harris. "Giving it back" to help me get better via the jams. (Updated Aug 2016 by MS)

Sunday sessions still going per venue site page. [Updated Sep 2024 by SJ]

Poor House Bistro, San Jose

Music happening but no jams at this time. [Updated Sep 2024 by SJ]

Charleys, Los Gatos

Venue has sold as of July 2024, and closed for the interim. [Update Aug 2024 by SJ]

Cafe Stritch, San Jose

When: Sunday jazz session 7-10pm

Where: Cafe Stritch, 374 S 1st St, San Jose 408.280.6161

Appears to be closed, a casualty of the pandemic.

Murphy's Law, Sunnyvale

Murphy's closed it's doors in Jan 2024.

Number One Broadway, Los Gatos

Music Wed-Sat but no jams detected. (Updated Nov 2021 by SJ)

Moss Landing Inn, Moss Landing

The restaurant closed its doors in Jan 2024.

Blue Rock Shoot, Saratoga

Venue closed. Sessions moved to Little Lou's - See entry above.

The Pocket, Santa Cruz

Where: The Pocket aka "Jerry's Front Pocket", 3102 Portola Dr, SC 831.475.9819
Venue has closed as of Nov 2021.

JJ's Lounge, San Jose

JJ's Blues was obliterated a while ago. Evidently "bottle service" and craft cocktails didn't work.

[Updated Sep 2024 by SJ]

Givin' it back, and keepin' it real. Since 2000.