There is an aura of undeniable dignity that wafts from Frank Goss’ persona, which matches the upscale ambience inside Close-Up2, the nation’s only contemporary jazz club. Close-Up2 exudes cultural refinement as it cloaks you with an exotic flair, from its porcelain floors to its Parisian lights, to the imported chairs and the custom-built bar. You cannot leave without carrying a part of the atmosphere with you. Located in the epicenter of Chicago’s financial district, an eclectic amalgamation of jazz aficionados – urban sophisticates, government types and corporate magnates – gather to imbibe on the best contemporary jazz artists in the region, and from around the nation.
Goss, a longtime jazz connoisseur and proud Miles Davis disciple, relinquished his highly rewarding globe-trotting career as an international banker to coalesce his passion for jazz and business acuity to establish Close-Up2. Chicago, long known for its appreciation of jazz and blues, gives Goss an ample fan base from which to harvest.
“They love it,” says Goss. “They’ve been ecstatic about it. Smooth jazz kind of crossed over, and contemporary jazz is now in high-end hotels [and] in upscale restaurants. You hear it in the post office [and] in lawyer firms. You see it in movies. It’s all over.”
All over Chicago especially. Last year’s Close-Up2 jazz festival attracted 25,000 people to downtown, and they’re expecting at least double that number this year. The club has been so successful, that there are plans to duplicate it in other markets. At Close-Up2, Goss and company, host live bands on Wednesdays and feature headlining acts from Thursday through Saturday. People can shake off the troubles of the world at the door and fling their cares into the corner like an old coat, to relax and just flow with the rhythm in Close-Up2.
“I love the music, and I think contemporary jazz is the new hip-hop. The scenario is that the hip-hoppers … went to college [and are] now in the work environment. They can’t take hip-hop to the corporate environment. So the next cool thing is contemporary jazz.” Better yet, contemporary jazz has been cool for quite some time and Close-Up2 gives the beloved music genre a forum to sprout and blossom. –terry shropshire
For more information, log onto www.closeup2jazz.com.
