The Broadway Jazz Club evolves as John Scott takes over booking and management

Since its opening in November 2013, the Broadway Jazz Club – located at 3601 Broadway – has been plagued by one trouble or another. It always seemed that the space – which held so much promise when the concept was introduced – was never quite settled. 

John Scott, owner and operator of the Green Lady Lounge, is well aware of the problems the Broadway Jazz Club has faced. Which is why, he says, owners Jim and Maggie Pollock are bringing him on board as the club’s new general manager and booking agent in June. 

“I’ve been contracted to keep the club open and keep Broadway a vibrant Kansas City jazz club,” Scott says.

And to keep the club open, Scott will be implementing quite a few changes – including a rebranding of the name. The Broadway Jazz Club will become Broadway Kansas City, with a new logo and website to match. That is just the first step.

“There will be some aesthetic changes to how the club looks and feels, from the moment when you walk in,” Scott says. “We’re going to coordinate the look and feel of the club with the branding of the club, rather than piecing all that out. It’s like at the Green Lady: Everything from the look of the club to how the musicians behave and look and perform to the menu – all those things need to be integrated. We want Broadway Kansas City to be a bar you want to stay in, whether you’re there for the jazz or not.”

Another large focus is getting payroll under control, which is why Scott has elected to take over the booking himself rather than contract that out. When asked about his plans for Broadway Kansas City’s calendar, Scott said that there would be little overlap in the schedules between that club and the Green Lady.

“As broad a genre as jazz is, it’s unnecessary for me to book the same groups that I do at Green Lady,” he says. “That’s one expression one model of a jazz club, and Broadway Kansas City is another expression of a classic jazz club. Broadway will continue to be more vocalist-centric, and that’s a strong distinction between the instrumental emphasis that Green Lady has grown into.”

The plan now is for Broadway Kansas City to be open Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, plus Wednesday nights during the weeks that KCUR’s 12th Street Jump radio show is there. Dinner will be served, but like the Green Lady, seating will be open and there will never be a cover charge (excepting, of course, special occasion shows). Scott adds that the musicians at Broadway will be held to the same standards as at the Green Lady.

“We want a little more energy in the room from the stage,” Scott says. “We want consistency, and classy dress and shorter breaks between sets. Those are some of the expectations that I have at Green Lady, and musicians welcome those things it improves the presentation of their product, which is Kansas City jazz.” 

For about a two-week period, starting June 1, the Broadway Jazz Club will temporarily close to accommodate some of the changes that Scott has planned. 

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“The extent to which this club has suffered financially means that we hit the ‘restart’ button,” he says. “We take some time to make some changes within the club, and make some changes to the POS and change the way the bar is laid out – right now it’s laid out for low volume, and it needs to be laid out for high volume so it can accommodate sales. We are going to cut back to the days that we know can work, so Thursday, Friday and Saturday. We’ll re introduce more days over time as it makes sense.” 

He goes on: “We’re only going to do things that are going to make financial sense. That’s part of what that two weeks is about. I want this club to succeed here, and I want to build a bigger scene. All of those things are going to be improved. And if it doesn’t work, it’ll be my fault.” 

Scott adds that music is already booked for June 18 – the Stan Kessler Trio – and more is planned for later in the month (just in case anyone was going to get worried about the foreboding “temporarily closed” sign). When I ask him about his concerns for that particular location, in a neighborhood which is not particularly known for classy jazz clubs, Scott speaks confidently. 

“I put an 11,000 square foot fitness center in that mall of the dead,” Scott says, referring to his previous venture with Scott Fitness (now the GymKC, located in the strip mall across from the Broadway Jazz Club). “I know that there’s a drinking age demographic there wanting to find a cool spot, and that demographic can find its way to that location. I’ve been in that neighborhood for 22 years, and I’m acquainted with the concerns and the opportunity there. I believe strongly in that neighborhood.” 

The Broadway Jazz Club will continue its regular schedule through this month. Take a look at their calendar for listings here.