600 Franklin St., Alexandria, VA
Owners Elliott Epstein and Ben Hiatt. Room capacity of 60.
While “the best vocal and acoustic guitar artists” were being presented by Cates beginning in 1982 in a basement space known as the Cellar Pub, jazz programming started in the upstairs Piano Room in June 1984 with a Thursday-Saturday schedule.
After testing the waters with local artists, Cates brought in nationally known artists (primarily singers at first) for extended runs with a Tuesday-Saturday schedule. The first was Judy Roberts in September 1984. Sundays were then devoted to local artists, booked on a monthly basis. The club was closed Mondays.
No drums. House bassist was Steve Novosel.
The club was scheduled to close on September 6, 1987, but continued until October 18. A new club with the same name opened in October 1988 in Washington.
Artists
1984
Stef Scaggiari and Sharon Clark
Ron Elliston and Sharon Clark
Stef Scaggiari and Sharon Clark
Stef Scaggiari and Bob Drummond
Stef Scaggiari and Aleta Greene
Stef Scaggiari and Sharon Clark
Judy Roberts
Tony Matarese and Sharon Clark
Tony Matarese and Jamie Broumas and Pam Bricker
Carol Sloane
Jackie Cain and Roy Kral
Eddie Hayter
Peter Dean
Dave Frishberg
Chris Connor and Richard Rodney Bennett
1985Ron Elliston and Sharon Clark
Stef Scaggiari and Sharon Clark
Stef Scaggiari and Bob Drummond
Stef Scaggiari and Aleta Greene
Stef Scaggiari and Sharon Clark
Judy Roberts
Tony Matarese and Sharon Clark
Tony Matarese and Jamie Broumas and Pam Bricker
Carol Sloane
Jackie Cain and Roy Kral
Eddie Hayter
Peter Dean
Dave Frishberg
Chris Connor and Richard Rodney Bennett
Jamie Broumas
Laurel Masse
Susannah McCorkle
Meredith d’Ambrosio
Emily Remler
Judy Roberts
Jamie Broumas
Buddy Charles
Jamie Broumas
Michele Hendricks
Jamie Broumas
Sue Raney
Herb Ellis
Jamie Broumas
Mark Murphy
Yvette Cason
Lynne Jackson and Mike Palter
Marshall Keys
Jon Hendricks
Anne Marie Moss
Jamie Broumas
Laurel Masse
Judy Roberts
Dee Bell
Jamie Broumas
Cates All Stars
1986Laurel Masse
Susannah McCorkle
Meredith d’Ambrosio
Emily Remler
Judy Roberts
Jamie Broumas
Buddy Charles
Jamie Broumas
Michele Hendricks
Jamie Broumas
Sue Raney
Herb Ellis
Jamie Broumas
Mark Murphy
Yvette Cason
Lynne Jackson and Mike Palter
Marshall Keys
Jon Hendricks
Anne Marie Moss
Jamie Broumas
Laurel Masse
Judy Roberts
Dee Bell
Jamie Broumas
Cates All Stars
Darryl Sherman
Mary Blankemeier
Mike Campbell
Lisa Rich
Kim Shaw and Marion Cowings
Dave Frishberg
Jackie Cain and Roy Kral
Vivian Lord
Dave Mackay
Uptown
Joyce Collins
Bobby Enriquez
Bob Florence
Michele Hendricks
Herb Ellis
Jon Hendricks
Laurel Masse
Lisa Rich
1987Mary Blankemeier
Mike Campbell
Lisa Rich
Kim Shaw and Marion Cowings
Dave Frishberg
Jackie Cain and Roy Kral
Vivian Lord
Dave Mackay
Uptown
Joyce Collins
Bobby Enriquez
Bob Florence
Michele Hendricks
Herb Ellis
Jon Hendricks
Laurel Masse
Lisa Rich
Emily Remler
Urbie Green
Frank Wess
Kim Shaw and Marion Cowling
Judy Carmichael
Jackie Cain and Roy Kral
Bucky and John Pizzarelli
Roland Hanna
Sue Raney
David ‘Fathead’ Newman
Warren Vache
Dee Bell
Marlene Verplanck
Chris Connor
Herb Ellis
Houston Person and Etta Jones
Laurel Masse
Pinky Winters
Freddy Cole
Eddie Harris
Mark Murphy
Urbie Green
Frank Wess
Kim Shaw and Marion Cowling
Judy Carmichael
Jackie Cain and Roy Kral
Bucky and John Pizzarelli
Roland Hanna
Sue Raney
David ‘Fathead’ Newman
Warren Vache
Dee Bell
Marlene Verplanck
Chris Connor
Herb Ellis
Houston Person and Etta Jones
Laurel Masse
Pinky Winters
Freddy Cole
Eddie Harris
Mark Murphy
Stef Scaggiari and Sharon Clark at Cates
WP 6/7/84 p.VA13
Stef Scaggiari and Sharon Clark at Cates
WP 6/15/84 p.WK19
Ron Elliston and Sharon Clark at Cates
WP 6/29/84 p.WK18
Stef Scaggiari and Sharon Clark at Cates
WP 7/6/84 p.WK13
Stef Scaggiari and Bob Drummond at Cates
WP 7/27/84 p.WK12
Stef Scaggiari and Aleta Greene at Cates
WP 8/3/84 p.WK12
Stef Scaggiari and Sharon Clark at Cates
WP 8/24/84 p.WK13
Judy Roberts at Cates
WP 9/7/84 p.WK19; WP 9/14/84 p.WK15
Tony Matarese and Sharon Clark at Cates
WP 9/28/84 p.WK15
Tony Matarese and Jamie Broumas and Pam Bricker at Cates
WP 10/5/84 p.WK13
Carol Sloane at Cates
WP 10/12/84 p.WK47
Carol Sloane at Cates
WP 10/19/84 p.WK18; WP 10/26/84 p.WK18
Carol Sloane at Cates
WP 11/2/84 p.WK21
Jackie Cain and Roy Kral at Cates
WP 11/9/84 p.WK14
Jackie Cain and Roy Kral at Cates
WP 11/16/84 p.WK13
Peter Dean at Cates
WP 11/23/84 p.WK22; WP 11/30/84 pWK32
Dave Frishberg at Cates
WP 12/7/84 p.WK31
Chris Connor and Richard Rodney Bennett at Cates
WP 12/14/84 p.WK23
Chris Connor and Richard Rodney Bennett at Cates
WP 12/21/84 p.WK23
Chris Connor and Richard Rodney Bennett at Cates
WP 12/28/84 p.WK44
Jamie Broumas at Cates
WP 1/4/85 p.WK10
Jamie Broumas at Cates
WP 1/18/85 p.WK20
Laurel Masse at Cates
WP 1/25/85 p.WK15
Laurel Masse at Cates
WP 2/1/85 p.WK13
Susannah McCorkle at Cates
WP 2/15/85 p.WK12
Meredith d'Ambrosio at Cates
WP 3/8/85 p.WK12
Emily Remler at Cates
WP 3/22/85 p.WK10
Judy Roberts at Cates
WP 4/5/85 p.WK10
Judy Roberts at Cates
WP 4/26/85 p.WK18
Buddy Charles at Cates
WP 5/3/85 p.WK15
Michele Hendricks at Cates
WP 5/17/85 p.WK20
Michele Hendricks at Cates
WP 5/31/85 p.WK16
Jamie Broumas at Cates
WP 6/7/85 p.WK21
Sue Raney at Cates
WP 6/14/85 p.WK17
Herb Ellis at Cates
WP 7/5/85 p.WK14
Herb Ellis at Cates
WP 7/26/85 p.WK12
Mark Murphy at Cates
WP 8/2/85 p.WK19
Mark Murphy at Cates
WP 8/9/85 p.WK13
Mark Murphy at Cates
WP 8/16/85 p.WK13
Lynne Jackson and Mike Palter at Cates
WP 8/23/85 p.WK21
Lynne Jackson and Mike Palter at Cates
WP 9/6/85 p.WK14
Jon Hendricks at Cates
WP 9/13/85 p.WK14
Jon Hendricks at Cates
WP 9/27/85 p.WK12
Anne Marie Moss at Cates
WP 10/4/85 p.WK20
Anne Marie Moss at Cates
WP 10/18/85 p.WK15
Laurel Masse at Cates
WP 10/25/85 p.WK28
Judy Roberts and Jim Cox at Cates
WP 11/8/85 p.WK21
Judy Roberts and Jim Cox at Cates
WP 11/22/85 p.WK14
Dee Bell at Cates
WP 11/29/85 p.WK42
Dee Bell at Cates
WP 12/13/85 p.WK18
Jamie Broumas and Marshall Keys at Cates
WP 12/20/85 p.WK25
Darryl Sherman at Cates
WP 1/3/86 p.WK10
Darryl Sherman at Cates
WP 1/24/86 p.WK16
Mike Campbell at Cates
WP 1/31/86 p.WK18
Mike Campbell at Cates
WP 2/14/86 p.WK22
Kim Shaw and Marion Cowings at Cates
WP 2/21/86 p.WK13
Kim Shaw and Marion Cowings at Cates
WP 2/28/86 p.WK25
Kim Shaw and Marion Cowings at Cates
WP 3/7/86 p.WK8
Dave Frishberg at Cates
WP 3/14/86 p.WK23
Dave Frishberg at Cates
WP 3/21/86 p.WK23
Jackie Cain and Roy Kral at Cates
WP 3/28/86 p.WK22
Jackie Cain and Roy Kral at Cates
WP 4/4/86 p.WK23
Vivian Lord at Cates
WP 4/11/86 p.WK19
Vivian Lord at Cates
WP 4/18/86 p.WK19
Vivian Lord at Cates
WP 4/25/86 p.WK18
Dave Mackay at Cates
WP 5/2/86 p.WK22
Dave Mackay at Cates
WP 5/9/86 p.WK12
Bibliography
Brown, Joe. “Mark Murphy.” Washington Post, October 9, 1987.
Joyce, Mike. “Ballads by Broumas.” Washington Post, December 22, 1990.
Joyce, Mike. “Jon Hendricks.” Washington Post, September 19, 1985.
Joyce, Mike. “Sophisticated Songs of Cain & Kral.” Washington Post, November 8, 1984.
Joyce, Mike. “Impeccable Urbie Green.” Washington Post, February 5, 1987.
Joyce, Mike. “Roland Hanna’s Joyous Jazz.” Washington Post, April 24, 1987.
Joyce, Mike. “Warren Vache’s Wide-Ranging Cornet.” Washington Post, June 8, 1987.
Joyce, Mike. “At Cates, Dee Bell’s Vocal Finesse.” Washington Post, June 19, 1987.
Joyce, Mike. “Herb Ellis.” Washington Post, August 1, 1987.
Joyce, Mike. “Person & Jones, in Harmony.” Washington Post, August 15, 1987.
Joyce, Mike. “The Riches of Laurel Masse.” Washington Post, August 28, 1987.
Joyce, Mike. “Winters’ Swing Blossoms.” The Washington Post (1974-). September 11, 1987, sec. Style THE ARTS TELEVISION LEISURE. https://www.proquest.com/hnpwashingtonpost/docview/139091178/abstract/3DD5B4E6C42D41E3PQ/178.
Joyce, Mike. “Freddy Cole.” Washington Post, September 25, 1987.
Karp, Jonathan. “Lynne Jackson and Mike Palter, Making Music The Way It Used to Be.” Washington Post, August 20, 1985.
Piantadosi, Roger. “All That Jazz: The Music Stayed Cool, So It’s Hotter Than Ever.” Washington Post, August 22, 1986.
Stokes, W. Royal. “Self-Starter Collins.” Washington Post, June 15, 1986.
Stokes, W. Royal. “Notes and Brush Strokes.” Washington Post, March 17, 1985.
Stokes, W. Royal. “Laurel Masse: Vocal Acrobatics.” Washington Post, January 31, 1985.
Stokes, W. Royal. “Playing to the Crowd.” Washington Post, May 12, 1985.
Stokes, W. Royal. “Journey to Jazz.” Washington Post, November 24, 1985.
Stokes, W. Royal. “The Earthy Blues of Ellis and Novosel.” Washington Post, July 11, 1985.
Stokes, W. Royal. “Harmony With A Twist.” Washington Post, July 30, 1985.
Stokes, W. Royal. “Lynne Jackson and Mike Palter.” Washington Post, August 22, 1985.
Stokes, W. Royal. “Moss’ Versatile Vocals.” Washington Post, October 4, 1985.
Stokes, W. Royal. “Rounding The Bases.” Washington Post, June 18, 1985.
Stokes, W. Royal. “Mixing It Up.” Washington Post, August 4, 1984.
Stokes, W. Royal. “Carol Sloane and Her Songs From the Heart.” Washington Post, October 17, 1984.
Stokes, W. Royal. “Carol Sloane.” Washington Post, October 25, 1984.
Stokes, W. Royal. “Suddenly, A Singer.” Washington Post, September 4, 1984.
Stokes, W. Royal. “The Composer’s New Roles.” Washington Post, December 9, 1984.
Stokes, W. Royal. “Chris Connor’s Confident Art.” Washington Post, December 13, 1984.
Stokes, W. Royal. “Eddie Hayter’s Inventive Blues Piano.” Washington Post, November 21, 1984.
Yorke, Jeffrey. “The River Club Tunes Up.” Washington Post, July 24, 1987.
Co- founder of Cates. If interested, I could probly fill in some blanks.