Haydee's
Mount Pleasant's Jazz Jam Home
The Venue
Haydee's sits in the heart of Mount Pleasant, a historic neighborhood that's experiencing a renaissance as one of Washington's emerging jazz corridors. This restaurant and bar has become the home of DC Jazz Jam, one of the city's most respected and long-running jazz jam sessions.
The venue offers a welcoming neighborhood atmosphere that balances being a quality restaurant and bar with being a serious music venue. The space accommodates both diners seeking good food and jazz enthusiasts coming specifically for the Sunday sessions.
What They Offer Patrons
Food: Full restaurant menu featuring quality dishes that keep patrons satisfied through hours of jazz. The kitchen serves a range of options from appetizers to full entrees, supporting the dinner-and-show experience that defines the Sunday jam sessions.
Beverages: Full bar with beer, wine, cocktails, and non-alcoholic options.
Atmosphere: Neighborhood-friendly and music-focused. Haydee's has cultivated a clientele that understands and respects jazz—this is a listening room where conversations pause when solos happen and applause comes at appropriate moments.
Music Programming: Beyond the Sunday jazz jam, Haydee's participates actively in Mount Pleasant's growing jazz scene, including outdoor performances during neighborhood events like "Art All Night."
Location Benefits: Part of Mount Pleasant's vibrant Lamont Street commercial corridor, surrounded by international restaurants, shops, and the neighborhood's multicultural character.
What They Offer Musicians
DC Jazz Jam - Every Sunday 6:30-9:00 PM: Since August 2009, DC Jazz Jam has offered FREE jazz for both audiences and fellow musicians. Winner of "Best Jazz Jam Session" in the Washington City Paper's 2013 and 2016 Readers' Poll, this is D.C.'s premier jazz jam session.
Professional Equipment: Complete backline provided, including:
- Full keyboard setup for pianists
- Guitar amp for guitarists
- Professional bass and bass amp
- Quality drum kit
- Appropriate sound reinforcement
Rotating House Bands: Each Sunday features different special guest musicians leading the house band. These have included:
- Jazz faculty and students from major programs (Peabody, Howard, Indiana University, George Mason, Shenandoah Conservatory)
- Established D.C. jazz professionals
- Themed series (Roy Haynes Centenary, Mel Torme tributes, Latin Jazz Jams, "Pianist Envy" series)
- "OG Jammers" from the jam's previous homes at Dahlak and The Brixton
No Cover Charge: The jam is completely free for musicians and audience members. Haydee's asks only that attendees be respectful by ordering food and drinks, and house band tips are appreciated.
Welcoming Format: The house band opens the session for the first hour, then welcomes sit-ins. Musicians sign up and introduce themselves to the house band—horn players, singers, rhythm instruments, and other instrumentalists all welcome.
16-Year Legacy: The jam's longevity and consistency provide musicians reliable weekly opportunities to perform with quality players in front of knowledgeable audiences.
Special Events: Monthly Latin Jazz Jams feature special guests on percussion, flute, and other instruments, exploring Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz traditions. Themed series and tributes provide focus while maintaining the inclusive spirit.
Community Support: The jam encourages musicians to support the venue by purchasing food and drinks, creating a sustainable model where both venue and musicians benefit from the partnership.
The DC Jazz Jam Experience
What distinguishes DC Jazz Jam at Haydee's is its combination of high musical standards and genuine inclusivity. The rotating house bands feature some of the DMV's finest players—jazz educators, touring professionals, conservatory students—yet the jam welcomes serious players at all levels who can hang with the changes and contribute musically.
The Sunday evening timing works perfectly for musicians and audiences alike—late enough to feel like a proper night out, early enough (ending at 9 PM) that people with day jobs Monday morning can participate. The 6:30 PM start means you can arrive at 6, order dinner, and settle in as the house band begins.
The jam's 16-year history, rotating through previous venues Dahlak and The Brixton before finding its current home at Haydee's, demonstrates both resilience and community support. That the jam has won City Paper's "Best Jazz Jam Session" twice reflects recognition from both musicians and the broader Washington jazz community.
For musicians, Haydee's offers what every jam session should provide but few actually deliver: professional equipment that works, house bands that can actually play, audiences that listen rather than talk over the music, and a venue committed to making the partnership sustainable. The special guest concept means you might sit in with jazz faculty from major conservatories one week, then with Latin jazz specialists or veteran bebop players the next, providing musical education and networking impossible to replicate elsewhere.
Haydee's location in Mount Pleasant's growing jazz scene means performing here connects you to a neighborhood actively building cultural identity around live music. The outdoor jams during Art All Night and other community events demonstrate how the venue and jam contribute to making Mount Pleasant a genuine jazz destination rather than just another gentrifying neighborhood with occasional live music.
Whether you're a horn player looking to stretch out on standards, a vocalist seeking quality accompaniment, a pianist wanting to test your comping skills, or simply a jazz listener seeking authentic performances in an intimate setting, DC Jazz Jam at Haydee's delivers the goods every Sunday at 6:30 PM.