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
PT Gazell & The Side Effects
6:00pm-8:15pm, $12 at the door
Hot, swingin, smooth, original, clean, lyrical, faster than a speeding bullet, diatonically chromatic, one of a kind, masterful, the swinginest, Oh yeah, like what? Nat King Cole, Benny Goodman, Louie Jordan, Ben Webster, Sweets Edison, ...that's what!

With 6 Solo CDs under his belt, including his double Grammy nominated 2011 and 2016 releases, “2 Days Out” and “A Madness To The Method,” PT Gazell continues to expand the musical boundaries for the harmonica. Using his own signature model instrument, the Gazell Method diatonic, he proves that the harmonica is capable of much more than what most of us believe.

PT likes to think of his performances and CDs as an ongoing musical conversation between himself and his fans. Judging by the music he delivers, he’s quite a compelling and articulate speaker. No other player combines his phrasing, his melodic style, his song choices and his improvisational abilities… His singular style may draw comparisons to others, but in the end, it’s a style all his own.

Join PT Gazell & The Side Effects for two sets of Gazell method inspired Jazz Standards, American Songbook Selections and Swing Classics. PT will be ably assisted by Jimmy Sullivan on Bass, Andy Reiss on Guitar and Chris Brown on Drums.

Dig It!
Regi Wooten & Friends
9:00pm-11:15pm, $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!


UPCOMING SHOWSFULL CALENDAR
Sep 11
Hot Club Gypsy Jazz Thursdays; Rudy’s French Connection
6:00pm-8:15pm central, $14 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.
Bruce Dudley Quartet Plays "Hidden Gems of Duke Ellington"
9:00pm-11:15pm central, $15 at the door
Pianist Bruce Dudley leads his quartet playing "Hidden Gems of Duke Ellington", with Don Aliquo on saxophone, Jack Aylor on bass and Ryan Brasley on drums.

Duke Ellington was a towering figure in American music whose innovations reshaped jazz and orchestral composition in the 20th century. As a prolific composer, pianist, and bandleader, he developed a distinctive sound defined by rich harmonies, inventive voicings, and emotional depth. Though he rose to fame in the 1930s, many consider the years from 1940 to 1954 his most creatively fertile period. During this time, Ellington produced a wealth of bold and often overlooked works, including “Main Stem,” “Ko-Ko,” “Transblucency,” “Reflections in D,” and “Melancholia.” These hidden gems reveal a mature artist blending blues, classical influences, and swing into some of the most sophisticated and enduring music in jazz history.

Bruce Dudley is a Steinway Concert Artist and has been performing jazz piano for over 40 years on concert stages, in clubs, and private residences throughout North and South America. He specializes in the Great American Songbook, as well as in the rich history of American jazz styles, from Ragtime and Stride to Modernism, Post Modernism, and performance of original music. In addition to his work as a solo artist, he leads a trio, quartet, and larger ensembles, with horns and/or strings, while also enlisting the award winning voice of his wife, Sandra Dudley. An active educator, Dudley has presented clinics across Canada, the United States, and in Colombia, South America. His recordings as a leader include DPSW Quartet - Live at the Cave (2019), The Solo Sessions (2012), Mostly Monk (2010), and Semblance (1997). Dudley has also performed with artists Aretha Franklin, Crystal Gayle, Nelson Riddle Orchestra, Herb Ellis, Randy Brecker, Little Anthony and the Imperials, the Ink Spots, and has played keyboards for over 35 touring Broadway shows, including Beautiful, Wicked, Jersey Boys, Guys and Dolls, Grease, Fiddler on the Roof, Legally Blonde, among others. Bruce Dudley has published articles for Downbeat magazine and presented scholarly research at conferences in the Netherlands, Canada, and the United States. His book 25 Piano Etudes in Idiomatic Styles was published in 2021 by Keuka Waters Music. Dudley is Associate Professor of Music at Belmont University. He has a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Colorado, a Master of Music in Jazz Performance from the Eastman School of Music, and a Bachelor of Science in Music Business and Technology from New York University.

"As the leader, Dudley set the evening’s tone with a supple, rich blend of assertive melodic statements, delightful accompaniment, first-rate phrasing, counterpoint and harmonizing." Ron Wynn - ArtsNash

"Dudley, whose fluent lines jet around the keyboard, absorbing motifs into the stream, without a split second of hesitation, at any point of rhythm in the bar, are stunning to listen to…" HALIFAX CHRONICLE HERALD

"Dudley plays the piano with such grace and authority that he has quietly become the pianists that other pianists go to hear." HOUSTON POST
Sep 12
Alex Murphy Trio feat. Gabrielle Cavassa
5:30pm-7:15pm central, $16 at the door
Hailing from Chicago, Alex grew up in a family of musicians with parents who emphasized musical exploration at an early age. He grew up in an area where the arts were strongly supported and he had the support to grow his passion for jazz. That passion led him into continued study at DePaul University in Chicago where he was under the tutelage of Ron Perrillo and Dana Hall. Alex has studied with masters Aaron Goldberg, Bill Charlap, Mark Colenburg, and Pascal LeBoeuf.

Alex’s performance portfolio continues to grow. He has performed at national staples including the Jazz Showcase, Andy’s Jazz Club, Green Mill, Rudys Jazz Room, Snug Harbor, and was featured in a master class at the Chicago Symphony with piano great Bill Charlap. He has been featured in the Chicago Jazz Festival and other jazz festivals nationally. Alex has had the opportunity to share the stage with artists MAJOR, Iam Tongi, Gabrielle Cavassa, Mark Colenburg, Bobby Broom, Adonis Rose, Chester Thompson, Joel Frahm, Dezron Douglas, Dave Douglas, and supporting Nicholas Payton at a residency at DePaul.

From a growing studio portfolio with jazz, pop, r&b, and hip hop artists as well as his continued pursuit of live performance, Alex has expanded his talent into the Nashville music scene collaborating with a variety of artists in many genres.

Most recently Alex can be seen featured on NPR’s “Top Shelf” for a Tiny Desk submission that he helped produce with artist and Nashville native Brian Brown. Alex’s relationship with Brian has made a distinct voice for Alex’s artistry combining his love for various Black American Music’s.

"Her voice gets under your skin," writes Stereophile, "It is idiosyncratic, but it is trustworthy in its clarity and almost physical in its intimacy..her intuitive interpretations and riveting voice make you sit very still in your chair."

Gabrielle Cavassa is a singer and composer, recently signed to Blue Note Records. She was ushered into the spotlight through her collaboration with renowned saxophonist Joshua Redman on his critically acclaimed 2023 record ‘where are we’. In a five-star album review by Downbeat, Cavassa is hailed as "a young singer with a deep, rich, and fragile voice…a star in the making."

Born in Escondido California of Italian descent, Cavassa began “obsessively listening” to records from a young age. Largely self-taught, she developed a unique approach to singing that would later characterize her artistry. Cavassa received a Bachelor of Arts in Music from San Francisco State University, but credits the Bay Area music scene for her “real education”. She moved to New Orleans in 2017, where she continued her education in local clubs. In 2020, Cavassa independently released an eponymous debut record produced by collaborator Jamison Ross. In 2021, she was crowned a winner of the prestigious International Sarah Vaughan Jazz Vocal Competition. Later that year she was discovered by Joshua Redman’s manager at an event in New Orleans, leading to their 2023 collaboration on Redman’s where are we. After the release, Cavassa toured extensively across the U.S., Europe, and Asia with the Joshua Redman Group from Fall 2023 to Spring 2025. Blue Note records announced they had signed Cavassa in 2024, quoting label president Don Was, "listening to Gabrielle sing is an experience akin to having her whisper secrets in your ear, the intimate honesty of her storytelling is breathtaking – she will be a major musical presence for decades to come." Cavassa’s Blue Note debut is set to release in Spring 2026.

Alex Murphy - piano
Gabrielle Cavassa - vocals
Lex Warshawsky - bass
Marlon Patton - drums
Julian Lee Quartet
8:00pm-10:15pm central, $21 in advance, $22 at the door
Julian Lee is quickly establishing himself as one of the most sought after and versatile saxophonists of his generation. He is the recipient of the 2017 Lincoln Center Emerging Artist Award from Jazz At Lincoln Center, and has performed both internationally and nationally with a wide array of critically acclaimed artists, including Wynton Marsalis, Christian McBride, Herlin Riley, The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and Jon Batiste.

Julian hosted the late night jam session at Dizzy’s Club in Jazz at Lincoln Center from 2015 until 2019, playing with countless of the finest musicians on the New York scene. In addition to headlining his own projects at Dizzy’s, he has played at the Blue Note, Jazz Standard, Birdland, Le Duc Des Lombards, Newport Jazz Festival, and Monterey Jazz Festival.

Julian is a regular section member with the JLCO (Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra), having played over 80 shows with the band since 2015. Julian has also performed with the Christian McBride Big Band, Mingus Big Band, and the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band. Julian is also a member of Isaiah J. Thompson’s quartet, which appeared on NPR’s “Tiny Desk” series.

Julian comes from a family of musicians; his parents, siblings, grandparents, and cousins are all professional musicians. Julian completed his undergraduate studies at the Juilliard School, where he had the honor of studying with master saxophonists Joe Temperley, Ron Blake, and Ted Nash. You can hear Julian on his debut release, Clementine.
The Joshua Constantine Quartet
11:00pm-1:00am central, $10 at the door
Joshua Constantine is a tenor saxophonist from Birmingham Alabama. Joshua is a former member of the prestigious and Grammy-nominated UNT One O’Clock Lab Band®, and student of world-renowned saxophonist Brad Leali. Along with his musical success, Joshua has gained a considerable following on social media and Youtube with his cover of “Just the Two of Us” reaching over 3 Million views! Joshua is currently an active performer and professor in the Nashville music scene.

Striving to honor the history of jazz music, Joshua intends to provide Rudy’s Jazz Room with an enriching and spiritual experience by playing the works of great composers such as John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Wayne Shorter, Duke Ellington. In his efforts to invest in the future of jazz, Joshua intends to perform his very own original compositions.

Joshua Constantine - Tenor Saxophone
Sam Smith - Bass
Michael Green - Drums
Dan La Maestra - Piano
Sep 13
Jody Nardone Trio
5:30pm-7:15pm central, $16 in advance, $17 at the door
"Thanks to a dynamic style that can shift from the whispered beauty of Bill Evans to the percussive flights of McCoy Tyner, Nardone has emerged as one of Nashville's preeminent jazz pianists. His reputation is also blowing up nationwide, where he is receiving raves in Downbeat and Jazziz for his role in the Crimson Jazz Trio, a Nashville-to-L.A. combo led by former King Crimson drummer Ian Wallace and former Vital Information bassist Tim Landers."

-Michael McCall, Nashville Scene
Private Event
8:00pm-10:15pm central
Rudy's will be closed for a private event
Private Event
11:00pm-1:00am central
Rudy's will be closed for a private event
Sep 14
Jimmy Sullivan's Swingin' Scene
6:00pm-8:15pm central, $12 at the door
Experience electrifying, hard-swinging jazz led by one of Nashville's most exciting bassists. Nashville’s own Jimmy Sullivan has been captivating audiences for years with his bi-monthly residency at Rudy’s Jazz Room! Born and raised in Reston Virginia, Jimmy studied jazz performance at Virginia Commonwealth University and spent years in New York City before making his mark in Nashville. Blending East Coast jazz and Southern soul, he's earned his spot as one of the Music City's premier bassists.

A versatile powerhouse, Jimmy has shared the stage with top-tier jazz talents like Laila Biali, Nicole Zuraitis, Joel Frahm, and Alyssa Allgood. His musicality and feel have also caught the ears of country and Americana legends including Lee Ann Womack, Mark Collie and Ashley Campbell. He's also known for his work with the genre-blending jazz collective Postmodern Jukebox.

Backed by a rotating cast of world-renowned musicians, Jimmy leads a show that's as musically rich as it is joyfully unpredictable. Whether wowing the room with his solos, stepping out front to sing, or keeping the crowd laughing with his off-the-cuff charm, Jimmy’s presence is always inspired — and always worth the listen. Don’t miss the chance to catch one of the most entertaining and swinging shows Nashville has to offer.
Rudy's Jazz Jam
9:00pm-11:15pm central, $12 at the door
Rudy's hosts the official pro jazz jam. Come out and experience some of music city's best as they take the stage with Nashville's next generation of jazz performers! You will hear a variety of young, old, new and undiscovered players showing what they can do on stage. Part of the jazz tradition and what jazz embodies is the unknown and spontaneous exploration of new musical territory with new musicians sitting in live on stage; you never know who or what to expect other than the unexpected!

We welcome all ages to this show and have a $10 food or beverage minimum.
Sep 15
Re-Evolution
6:00pm-8:15pm central, $12 at the door
Re-Evolution is heavily influenced by traditional and classic jazz cutting edge artists such as John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Wes Montgomery, Bill Evans, McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones, Thelonious Monk and many more. Featuring Brian Cornish on saxophone, Regi Wooten on bass, Daryl Johnson on drums, Adam Charney on guitar and Marc Payne on piano.
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. Giovanni Rodríguez timbales/vocals, Melvin Macias (piano/vocals), Yosvany Cordero (conga/bongo), Michael S. Morton (flute/vocals), Isoel Villarrubia (bass).

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.
Sep 17
Bizz Bigsby
6:00pm-8:15pm central, $16 at the door
Join Wendell "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.

For Bizz, music has been a lifeline—a source of expression and strength through a childhood marked by tragedy and hardship. Born in North Nashville, Bizz was raised by his grandmother and her sisters, with his father - a successful musician who performed with legends like Little Richard — remaining a distant yet profound influence. Tragically, Bizz witnessed his mother being shot at age four, setting the stage for a tumultuous life that has included overcoming a lifelong battle with addiction, surviving cancer, and several near-death experiences. From an early age, music became his guiding light, and these struggles explain his unique style as a songwriter and performer.

The striking way in which he blends the soul and R&B legacy of North Nashville’s Jefferson Street with the story-telling traditions of country and blues creates a new sound that can best be described as "Urban Americana", drawing listeners in with its raw emotion and authenticity. Today, Bizz is an accomplished artist, entertainer, and songwriter, whose music is influenced by everyone from Sam Cooke to George Jones to James Taylor.

Bigsby 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 dad’s show, the lead singer got sick, and his dad asked Bizz to fill in for two nights. Those two shows turned into five years, opening for such artists as James Brown, Aretha Franklin, and Little Richard. This experience on stage helped shape Bizz's musical career and introduced him to a life on the road, performing in front of massive crowds.

Bigsby has found his unique voice as a songwriter since overcoming his battle with cocaine and alcohol addiction twelve years ago, and his music tells the story of his journey with at times brutal honesty. And yet, ultimately, he inspires with his message of hope and faith, leaving the listener feeling positive and inspired by the possibility of redemption.
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!