CD Blues has been open at their new site across the street from the north gate of Ritan Park for some months and is definitely worth Checking out. I go there a lot. There is music of some kind almost every night and the really strong Big John Blues Band powers things on Saturday nights. The band is terrific with 2 great lead guitars, the infamous Zhang Xiao Song on harp, keyboards, drums and the club owner and Cui Jian alumnus, Big John, on bass. The new room has a different feel than the old 3rd Ring Rd spot, but there is a clear view of the stage from every seat at the new one. Check their website for specifics, but there is usually a blues jam Thursdays, blues on Fridays and jazz and swing dancing earlier in the week. The sound system is a crystal clear Sennheiser system (must be a sponsor given the signage). Eric the Bluesman is often playing there. And the Italian restaurant upstairs makes great pasta. In summary, CD Blues feels like home to me.
And the old comments below about management issues? Forget about it! It's all cool.
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Should be called CD Smooth Jazz
Cons:
I was disappointed at the lack of blues. To be fair, the band was pretty good, if you like smooth saxaphone jazz, but it wasn't remotely blues. I don't know if they have blues on not-Saturday nights. The cover charge was a little excessive, given that it was so cold we had to wear our jackets the entire time. It also didn't include a drink, which furthered my dissapointment as the drinks were some of the more expensive in Beijing, with the average cocktail costing 68 and even a small draft Tiger beer at 45.
Pros:
Other than the temperature, the atmosphere was decent. It was cean and the music was at a reasonable volume. The lighting and decor were appropriate for a small music venue, and there was no problem getting a table. They only allow smoking in the back next do the door, which is a con for some. The service was good, and the staff was polite and friendly. It double as a restaurant during the day, but I didn't try any of the food.
The clientele seemed to be primarily fuerdai. If you don't mind the cost and want to hang with the young, rich crowd, call first to see what the band will be.
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