Music City's Authentic Jazz Club

Serving classic New Orleans prohibition cocktails, local brews, and New Orleans cuisine.
HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS
Sundays-Thursdays: 5pm-7pm $7 Wells, $8 House Wines
Mondays: 9pm-Close $8 Cuba Libres, $12 Estrella & Shot of Lunazul Blanco
TONIGHT'S SHOWS
Hot Club Gypsy Jazz Thursdays; Rudy’s French Connection
6:00pm-8:15pm, $12 at the door
Hot Club Gypsy Jazz Thursdays; Rudy’s French Connection

Every Thursday we honor our New Orleans and French roots and Rudy’s comes alive with a variety of small groups in the style of gypsy jazz swing. We bring you music inspired by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli with "Hot Club" gypsy jazz swing. Known for fierce tempos and effortless improvisation, our Hot Club Gypsy Thursdays are sure to entertain, inspire, and bring you back to some authentic "jazz manouche" with groups either led or curated by New Orleans LA native Brook Sutton.

There’s no better place to chill, cozy up and relax after work. Imbibe French Quarter inspired cocktails or a glass of Côtes du Rhône, and enjoy some gumbo and beignets, while listening to the rhythm and mood of hot club jazz in Nashville’s most intimate and romantic room.
Chris Mondak Band w/ special guest Pavel Wlosok
9:00pm-11:15pm, $14 at the door
Bassist and composer Chris Mondak has lived in Nashville since 2020. Chris studied with bass legends Cecil McBee and Dave Holland at the New England Conservatory (B.M., 2020). Prior to that, Chris was active in the Champaign Central HS music program, where he was a three-time Illinois all-state musician, receiving commendations from Essentially Ellington, Music for All, the Brubeck Institute, YoungArts, and Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Chris has played with Wycliffe Gordon, Dave Douglas, Wayne Escoffery, Melanie Charles, Shelly Berg, Marvin Stamm, Jesus Molina, Jeff Hamilton, and Matt Savage. Chris has toured in the U.S., and has played in Australia, Mexico and Panama, and toured twice in China. Chris has performed at venues such as Birdland, Bop Stop, Jazz at Lincoln Center-Shanghai, Carnegie Hall, Rudy's, and Breezy's.

In 2023, Chris released his 3rd CD, Blank with Colour(Summit Records), a lively collection of jazz-funk tunes including eight of Chris's original compositions plus covers of the classics songs "Cruel to Be Kind" (Nick Lowe) and "Affirmation" (composed by Jose Feliciano and made famous by George Benson).

Chris has received international composition and performance awards from the Italian organization 7 International Jazz Club (2023, for "Begetting," a semi-finalist in the under 25 category), and the Hengqin Cup Jazz Competition in Zhuhai, China (2019, 1st place for "Always Smiling" as the festival's top original composition).

Pavel Wlosok is a Czech-born American pianist, composer, arranger, educator, mixing and mastering engineer, and photographer. He received his classical education in piano performance and contemporary composition at the Janacek Conservatory of Music in Ostrava and Janacek Academy in Brno, and obtained his bachelor and master degrees in jazz studies at the University of North Texas (aka UNT) in Denton. Since August 2002, he has been the full time instructor of the Jazz and Commercial Music and Audio Production program at Western Carolina University, in Cullowhee, NC. In 2016, he was awarded a full professorship by the University of North Carolina board of trustees.

While at UNT, he served as pianist-arranger for the One O'clock Lab Band (4 CDs, including one featuring Kenny Wheeler as soloist); as solo pianist for the UNT Wind Symphony (CD “Luminaries”); and frequently tours both Europe and North America. In June of 2007 WCU’s Smoky Mountain Brass Quintet performed Pavel’s original commissioned piece “Five Miniatures for Brass Quintet” at Carnegie Hall, New York. Pavel is the recipient of the IAJE Gil Evans Commission in jazz arranging and composition for the year 2000.

Since 2012, Pavel has released ten jazz CD albums as a leader featuring worldclass musicians including tenor saxophonists Bob Sheppard, Rick Margitza, Joel Frahm, drummer Ed Soph, guitarist Paul Bollenback, and Grammy-Awardwinning saxophonist Donny McCaslin and drummer John Riley, and since 2006 has led the Wlosok/McGuirk/Riley jazz trio whose double-CD album “Never Too Old For Love” featuring vocalist Carly Johnson came out in 2020 on Prague’s LH Promotion label. Since Fall of 2023, he has also been the pianist and choir director at Maggie Valley United Methodist Church in Western North Carolina.

In addition, Pavel is known for his audio recording, mixing, and mastering skills combining technologies of analog reel-to-reel tape and outboard gear with the industry standard Avid ProTools HD system. On occasion, he also enjoys shooting portraits and landscapes with his Nikon-based photography equipment.

Pavel maintains a busy international performing schedule and enjoys living in Western North Carolina near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with his wife Andrea, three daughters Victoria, Natalia, Karolina, and King Charles Cavalier dog Charlie. For more info, feel free to visit his website at pavelwlosok.com


UPCOMING SHOWSFULL CALENDAR
May 31
Pavel Wlosok Quartet
5:30pm-7:15pm central, $14 at the door
Pavel Wlosok is a Czech-born American pianist, composer, arranger, educator, mixing and mastering engineer, and photographer. He received his classical education in piano performance and contemporary composition at the Janacek Conservatory of Music in Ostrava and Janacek Academy in Brno, and obtained his bachelor and master degrees in jazz studies at the University of North Texas (aka UNT) in Denton. Since August 2002, he has been the full time instructor of the Jazz and Commercial Music and Audio Production program at Western Carolina University, in Cullowhee, NC. In 2016, he was awarded a full professorship by the University of North Carolina board of trustees.

While at UNT, he served as pianist-arranger for the One O'clock Lab Band (4 CDs, including one featuring Kenny Wheeler as soloist); as solo pianist for the UNT Wind Symphony (CD “Luminaries”); and frequently tours both Europe and North America. In June of 2007 WCU’s Smoky Mountain Brass Quintet performed Pavel’s original commissioned piece “Five Miniatures for Brass Quintet” at Carnegie Hall, New York. Pavel is the recipient of the IAJE Gil Evans Commission in jazz arranging and composition for the year 2000.

Since 2012, Pavel has released ten jazz CD albums as a leader featuring worldclass musicians including tenor saxophonists Bob Sheppard, Rick Margitza, Joel Frahm, drummer Ed Soph, guitarist Paul Bollenback, and Grammy-Awardwinning saxophonist Donny McCaslin and drummer John Riley, and since 2006 has led the Wlosok/McGuirk/Riley jazz trio whose double-CD album “Never Too Old For Love” featuring vocalist Carly Johnson came out in 2020 on Prague’s LH Promotion label. Since Fall of 2023, he has also been the pianist and choir director at Maggie Valley United Methodist Church in Western North Carolina.

In addition, Pavel is known for his audio recording, mixing, and mastering skills combining technologies of analog reel-to-reel tape and outboard gear with the industry standard Avid ProTools HD system. On occasion, he also enjoys shooting portraits and landscapes with his Nikon-based photography equipment.

Pavel maintains a busy international performing schedule and enjoys living in Western North Carolina near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with his wife Andrea, three daughters Victoria, Natalia, Karolina, and King Charles Cavalier dog Charlie. For more info, feel free to visit his website at pavelwlosok.com
The Pat Coil Trio with special guest Joel Frahm
8:00pm-10:15pm central, $22 in advance, $23 at the door
Pianist Pat Coil has toured Japan, South America, Europe and the U.S. with such artists as Michael McDonald, Carmen McCrae, Olivia Newton John, Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Woody Herman and many others. Pat has recorded with many artists including Natalie Cole, Trisha Yearwood, Ernie Watts, Carmen McCrae, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Kenny Rogers, Travis Tritt, Peter Cetera, Woody Herman, Scott Henderson, and Michael McDonald.

During his L.A. years, Pat played on many movie and TV scores, including Star Trek - Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Murphy Brown, Dionne Warwick & Friends, Growing Pains, Major Dad, Spencer For Hire, The Grammy Awards and many more. He played for various artists on the Tonight Show, Arsenio Hall, & Conan O’Brien. Living now in Nashville TN, Pat continues his successful career composing, recording, performing, producing, arranging and teaching. He has composed, produced and performed on hundreds of underscores heard on a variety of media all over the world. Pat taught jazz piano, combos, and improvisation at Middle Tennessee State University, and was an Associate Professor of Jazz Studies at the University Of North Texas.

Pat has recorded six solo jazz albums of his own, the third one being a collaboration with Lyle Mays. “True North” and his new album “Birdhouse” are available at patcoil.com, cdbaby.com and I-Tunes. Pat currently tours with Michael McDonald and Lynda Carter. He also makes numerous appearances with his own group. Pat has a new release of his original music, “Music For Humans….and Other Species”. For more information, please visit patcoil.com.

For nearly 30 years, Joel Frahm has lived in New York City, working in jazz clubs, collaborating with other musicians, and honing his craft. His bold, inventive tenor sound has won fans in the U.S. and across the world. He has worked alongside Betty Carter, Kenny Barron, Freddy Cole, Dianne Schuur, Kurt Elling, Jane Monheit, Bill Charlap, Brad Mehldau, Matt Wilson, Cyrille Aimee, and many other top artists. He has played as a leader or sideman on more than 100 recordings and has appeared at jazz festivals in the United States, Europe, Israel, Canada and South America. In addition to his work as a performer, he has taught jazz classes in clinics at the University of North Carolina, the University of Connecticut, New York University, Wichita State University, the University of North Texas, Baylor University, Colorado State University, Furman University, the University of Toronto, the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, the University of Manitoba and others. He also has worked at the Monterey Jazz Festival’s Next Generation program; the Sant Andreu Youth Jazz Orchestra in Barcelona, Spain; the Dave Brubeck Institute in Stockton, California; the Center for Jazz Studies at the Israel Conservatory in Tel Aviv; the Czech Jazz Workshop in Prague; and the Siena Jazz Workshop in Italy. Joel grew up in Racine, Wisconsin and moved to West Hartford, Connecticut as a high school freshman, where he became part of the acclaimed Hall High School jazz band. It was there he developed a passion for jazz, exploring the music of jazz greats such as Art Blakey, Freddie Hubbard, Horace Silver and Wayne Shorter. In 1992, he received a bachelor's degree from the Manhattan School of Music.

Jacob Jezioro began studying music seriously as a teenager. His father an established Nashville bassist, guitarist and producer was his first teacher. Jacob later attended Indiana University, where his mentors were jazz bassist Jeremy Allen and classical bassist Kurt Muroki. After completing his masters degree at Berklee, Jacob performed with pianist Danilo Perez in Panama and Costa Rica and taught high school jazz students at the Newport Jazz Festival, Panama Jazz Festival and FiJazz Festival Costa Rica. Since his return to Nashville in 2019, Jacob has recorded and performed live with his own bands and worked in a variety of styles with many artists in Nashville, most notably with pianist Pat Coil. Coil’s trio has functioned as a rhythm section with other artists on recordings by vocalist Jaimee Paul and saxophonist Joel Frahm among others. Jacob has also begun producing records under his own creative music label, Green Box Music.

Drummer Jordan Perlson is one of the most dynamic and catalytic musicians you will hear. Transplanted from NYC to Nashville, Tennessee in 2016, Jordan remains an integral part of a wide international music scene. From cutting edge music innovators like Becca Stevens, Snarky Puppy, Banda Magda, to progressive musicians Adrian Belew, Echolyn, Kaki King, fusion megastar Hiromi, jazz legends Seamus Blake, Gary Burton, David Liebman, folk heroes Alison Brown, Missy Raines, reggae giants Matisyahu, or Trevor Hall, Jordan has become a well known and sought after force in these many musical circles.
Geoff Pfeifer Quartet
11:00pm-1:00am central, $10 at the door
The Geoff Pfeifer Quartet, gritty, edgy, the real deal NYC style jazz. Saxophonist Geoff Pfeifer brings some of Nashville's top jazz cats out, and you'll be sure to feel the energy. Playing a mix of original material and Wayne Shorter tunes.

Geoff Pfeifer, a Nashville based musician and composer, has been living and performing in Nashville since 2005. Geoff studied saxophone with Ted Nash and Ralph Lalama and composition with Mike Holober and Jim McNeely. He is a saxophonist and arranger with the R&B band Chubby and The Dots and plays the 2nd Tenor Saxophone chair in The Establishment Big Band.
Jun 1
Jeff Berlin w/ Jody Nardone, Joel Frahm & Bob Harsen
5:30pm-7:15pm central, $15 at the door
Jeff Berlin is widely considered to be one of the greatest innovators of the electric bass in the world. Long associated with the "Big Three” (Clarke, Pastorius, Berlin), Jeff played with Bill Buford, Allan Holdsworth and Frank Zappa. He was a member of HBC featuring Jeff along with Dennis Chambers and Scott Henderson. Jeff is a solo artist with seven solo recordings to his credit. Jeff is the favorite bassist of Geddy Lee who called Jeff, "the greatest bass player on the planet."

Jeff's group features some of Nashville's best musicians including Jody Nardone on piano, Joel Frahm on saxophone and Bob Harsen on drums.
Concurrence Album Release Show
8:00pm-10:15pm central, $25 at the door
Lauded by Nashville Scene as the city's "Best Jazz Band that isn't a Jazz Band," Concurrence is a musical brotherhood based on trust, improvisation and celebration of Black Creative Music. Keyboardist Paul Horton (Alabama Shakes, Brittany Howard Band) together with bassist Greg Bryant have forged their musical partnership on bandstands across the United States opening for Cory Henry and Rebirth Brass Band and touring independently on their own. They will return to Rudy's Jazz Room for one night, June 1st, with friend and drummer Aaron Smith (and special guests) to celebrate their new album, Indivisible, released on the Brooklyn-based label, La Reserve. The band's original material examines the comprehensive, groove and avant tradition of Black Creative Music. The new album examines the deleterious effects of interstate highway construction on communities of color.

"Concurrence has a firm grounding in experimental, edgy jazz, and improvisation is at the core of everything they do. But their recordings and performances (with mainstream jazz vocalists, spoken-word artists and rappers alike) show them drawing on multiple groove-oriented sources to focus on something they aptly call “black creative music.” Ron Wynn - Nashville Scene

Check out some Concurrence video here
Rebecca Carlson
11:00pm-1:00am central, $10 at the door
Singer and songwriter Rebecca Carlson was born and raised in the small town of Milford, Iowa. Both her parents were music lovers. From an early age she was singing gospel with her entire family, and she credits this with instilling in her a great passion for music and a highly developed ear for harmony and melody. She also would lose herself in her father’s immense collection of vinyl LPs, where she got a ‘home-schooling’ like no other -everything from classic blues, jazz, rock, country and soul. She was influenced by vocalists Sarah Vaughan, Nina Simone, Linda Ronstadt and Karen Carpenter.

Rebecca was singing professionally while still in her teens, performing jazz and blues standards at local venues. At Waldorf College in Forest City IA, she studied voice and theater. This led to a stint in NYC where she performed in repertory theater and nightclubs.

In Tucson AZ, Rebecca’s powerhouse vocal style quickly established her as a high-profile and in-demand performer. For fifteen years she maintained a steady recording and touring schedule throughout the Southwestern US. She was a founding member of original blues acts The Jane Crowe Band and 22 Black, all the while maintaining her Jazz and Standards catalog at local nightclubs and theaters. Rebecca expanded her regional reputation and following considerably when she joined the ranks of Tucson’s heavyweights, recording and performing with the hi-energy Soul/R&B act The Socials as she continued to record and perform in Tucson.

Rebecca relocated to Los Angeles in 2019, intending to pursue and focus on her songwriting and her solo career. In LA Rebecca met award-winning guitarist/producer Doug Hamblin. Doug’s past work includes classic artists such as Stephen Stills, Johnny Rivers and ‘Southside Johnny’ Lyon. Rebecca and Doug began writing and recording and were immediately excited about the results. The sessions were very productive in a five-month collaboration they finished an album’s worth of all-new original material. The music covers a broad scope of classic American styles.

Upon her move to Nashville, Rebecca teamed up with coveted bassist Jimmy Sullivan to do what she does best. As a singer, Rebecca has developed a formidable turn of phrase -sometimes surreal, fanciful and wry, other times achingly intimate and heartfelt—all anchored by her knockout punch of a voice.
Jun 2
CLOSED
9:00pm-11:15pm central, $10 at the door
Rudy's will be closed
Jun 3
Christine Parri
6:00pm-8:15pm central, $12 at the door
Australian powerhouse vocalist Christine Parri relocated to Nashville in 2009. She honed her skills as a teenager in Perth, Western Australia, performing with national touring bands and as a solo artist before moving on to study under world-renowned vocal instructors in Los Angeles. Since then, she has performed with and opened up for many legendary artists around the world such as Buddy Guy, Taj Mahal, and Dee Dee Bridgewater. She further developed her musical identity, performing across the U.S. in blues and jazz meccas.

Her songwriting style is rooted in blues music, but there's no mistaking her pop sensibility and love for jazz, R&B and soul music. All of which informed her unique blend of influences. Her original song “Stomp Clap” was featured in the CW Network’s primetime program "No Tomorrow", and the Fox Network's "Dirty Little Secrets".

Christine’s versatile songwriting and powerful vocal performances are front and center. Her voice brings to mind timeless artists such as Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Billie Holiday, Amy Winehouse, Norah Jones, Chaka Khan, and Bonnie Raitt.

Her past performances at Rudy’s Jazz Room have drawn in sold out crowds and she continues to build her growing fan base here in Music City.
Giovanni Rodriguez & 12 Manos
9:00pm-11:15pm central, $15 at the door
A Nashville favorite on the Salsa and jazz scene and electric night of Salsa dancing! Multi-instrumentalist Giovanni Rodriguez, one of Nashville's leading percussionists, bassists and favorite on the Salsa and jazz scene, plays the sounds of salsa, bachata and percussion-driven rhythms with some of the most seasoned veterans in the Nashville Latin music scene. Melvin Macias (piano/vocals), Jesus Agreda (Timbales), Lorenzo Molina Ruiz (Trumpet), Manuel 'Manotas' Ramierez (multi-Percussion), and Giovanni Rodriguez (bass/vocals).

For this show general admission tickets are available for standing and sitting in the front section of the room near the stage with the dance floor. Tickets for bar seats and tables are available as well. General admission tickets for the front section are not guaranteed to have seats as we will have a large part of the front section seating cleared for the dance floor. General admission tickets will have standing room as well as limited seating. Only our tables and bar seats will have guaranteed seating for this show.
Jun 5
Bizz Bigsby
6:00pm-8:15pm central, $15 at the door
Join Bizz Bigsby for an evening of engaging stories and great songs sharing his life’s journey. Happy, sad, good times, bad times. His songs tell his story.

A native of North Nashville, Bizz came to music naturally. He is the eldest son of Nashville R&B icon Jimmy Church, who invited a young Bizz to tour with him and his band. While running lights for his dads’ show, the lead singer got sick, and his dad asked Bizz to fill in for two nights. Those two shows turned into 5 years, opening for such artists as James Brown, Aretha Franklin, and Little Richard.

Bizz is an accomplished artist and songwriter, whose music is influenced by everyone from Bill Withers to George Jones to James Taylor. As a performer, he has played on the biggest stages in Nashville and throughout the US and Canada. His songs follow his path through love, addiction, fatherhood, cancer, and recovery and “The emotions are real. The stories are true. The songs are from my heart.”
Regi Wooten & Friends
9:00pm-11:15pm central, $15 at the door
Known as “The Teacha”, Regi Wooten is one of the most innovative, talented and dynamic musicians around the scene, and has pushed the boundaries of jazz, funk, soul, R&B, rock, and even bluegrass to some of the most extreme musical limits. From picking, slapping, strumming, thumping, and tapping to some of the most ear bending advanced chords you’ll hear on any instrument, Regi has earned world-wide notoriety and comparisons to other innovators such as Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa and Chuck Berry. Perfecting, creating and discovering new techniques and jazz theory while incorporating and layering into strong funk grooves for keen listeners to uncover and pick up on is one of his many notable fortes.

At only nine years old Regi started teaching his younger brother Victor Wooten bass guitar and Joseph Wooten keyboards, and soon the Wooten Brothers Band was formed featuring; Regi on ukelele, Roy on drums, Rudy on Saxophone, Joe on Keys and Victor on bass. Regi was ten years old at the time, Roy was nine, Rudy was eight, Joseph was five and Victor was two. The rest, as they say, is Musical History.

Assembling a cast of Nashville's best, Regi Wooten and Friends dig deep into the roots of funk, jazz, blues, rock, and soul. You never know who might jump on stage! Don't miss a beat!
Jun 6
Hot Club Gypsy Jazz Thursdays; Rudy’s French Connection
6:00pm-8:15pm central, $12 at the door
Hot Club Gypsy Jazz Thursdays; Rudy’s French Connection

Every Thursday we honor our New Orleans and French roots and Rudy’s comes alive with a variety of small groups in the style of gypsy jazz swing. We bring you music inspired by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli with "Hot Club" gypsy jazz swing. Known for fierce tempos and effortless improvisation, our Hot Club Gypsy Thursdays are sure to entertain, inspire, and bring you back to some authentic "jazz manouche" with groups either led or curated by New Orleans LA native Brook Sutton.

There’s no better place to chill, cozy up and relax after work. Imbibe French Quarter inspired cocktails or a glass of Côtes du Rhône, and enjoy some gumbo and beignets, while listening to the rhythm and mood of hot club jazz in Nashville’s most intimate and romantic room.
Rebecca Carlson
9:00pm-11:15pm central, $14 at the door
Singer and songwriter Rebecca Carlson was born and raised in the small town of Milford, Iowa. Both her parents were music lovers. From an early age she was singing gospel with her entire family, and she credits this with instilling in her a great passion for music and a highly developed ear for harmony and melody. She also would lose herself in her father’s immense collection of vinyl LPs, where she got a ‘home-schooling’ like no other -everything from classic blues, jazz, rock, country and soul. She was influenced by vocalists Sarah Vaughan, Nina Simone, Linda Ronstadt and Karen Carpenter.

Rebecca was singing professionally while still in her teens, performing jazz and blues standards at local venues. At Waldorf College in Forest City IA, she studied voice and theater. This led to a stint in NYC where she performed in repertory theater and nightclubs.

In Tucson AZ, Rebecca’s powerhouse vocal style quickly established her as a high-profile and in-demand performer. For fifteen years she maintained a steady recording and touring schedule throughout the Southwestern US. She was a founding member of original blues acts The Jane Crowe Band and 22 Black, all the while maintaining her Jazz and Standards catalog at local nightclubs and theaters. Rebecca expanded her regional reputation and following considerably when she joined the ranks of Tucson’s heavyweights, recording and performing with the hi-energy Soul/R&B act The Socials as she continued to record and perform in Tucson.

Rebecca relocated to Los Angeles in 2019, intending to pursue and focus on her songwriting and her solo career. In LA Rebecca met award-winning guitarist/producer Doug Hamblin. Doug’s past work includes classic artists such as Stephen Stills, Johnny Rivers and ‘Southside Johnny’ Lyon. Rebecca and Doug began writing and recording and were immediately excited about the results. The sessions were very productive in a five-month collaboration they finished an album’s worth of all-new original material. The music covers a broad scope of classic American styles.

Upon her move to Nashville, Rebecca teamed up with coveted bassist Jimmy Sullivan to do what she does best. As a singer, Rebecca has developed a formidable turn of phrase -sometimes surreal, fanciful and wry, other times achingly intimate and heartfelt—all anchored by her knockout punch of a voice.