600 Franklin St., Alexandria, VA
Owners Elliot 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
1984Ron 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
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
Mary Blankemeier
Mike Campbell
Lisa Rich
Kim Shaw and Marion Cowings
Dave Frishberg
Jackie Cain and Roy Kral
Vivian Lord
Dave Mackay
Uptown
Bill Mays
Scott Hamilton
Eddie Vann
Joyce Collins
Joan Cushing
Bobby Enriquez
Bob Florence
Michele Hendricks
Herb Ellis
Jon Hendricks
Freddy Cole
Laurel Masse
Judy Roberts
Mark Murphy
Lisa Rich
Melissa Berman
Cates All Stars
Pam Bricker
Joan Cushing
Shirley Horn
Urbie Green
Nancy Marano and Eddie Montiero
Frank Wess
Kim Shaw and Marion Cowling
Judy Carmichael
Jackie Cain and Roy Kral
Bucky and John Pizzarelli
Roland Hanna
Sue Raney and Bob Florence
David ‘Fathead’ Newman
Warren Vache
Dee Bell
Marlene VerPlanck
Tal Farlow
Chris Connor
Herb Ellis
Houston Person and Etta Jones
Laurel Masse
Pinky Winters and Lou Levy
Freddy Cole
Eddie Harris
Mark Murphy
Co- founder of Cates. If interested, I could probly fill in some blanks.