James Gaston opened his live music venue, Jazz UpFront, in 2015 after several trials and tribulations. Ten years later, it's hailed as a great venue for musicians and lovers of music to come together.
Gaston, a Bloomington native, lifelong musician and jazz connoisseur, runs the club with his wife Linda, who also works as a physical therapist.
Gaston was heavily influenced by Robert "Gat" Gaston, his father, a blues guitarist and singer from Mississippi. Robert also was known in the Bloomington-Normal community for having owned a barber shop, Gaston’s Upper Cut. He died in 1993.
James Gaston gives his father credit for his knowledge of music, business — and the two combined.
“James comes from a family where music has always been important,” Linda said. “In their home — when they were children — there was always music.”
Linda said Gaston’s parents made themselves known in the music scene by hosting after parties for famous acts that performed at the Bel-Air Club on Bloomington's south side. She said Gaston and his siblings would climb out of bed and spy on their parents and their guests from the stairwell.
Linda cites American guitarist and singer George Benson as one of several famous artists whom young Gaston encountered at one of his parents’ after parties.
“The music comes right from his childhood. He’s just been immersed in it all his life and it was always his ambition to have a jazz club in Bloomington,” said Linda.
Later in his youth, Gaston performed with Band X during his high school years. He worked at the Red Lion Inn, a former live music venue in Bloomington that featured famous artists such as Cheap Trick and REO Speedwagon.
Gaston opened Jazz UpFront after facing challenges with After Ours, his previous club that is now closed, and having difficulty obtaining a liquor license for Jazz UpFront.
The Vibe
Jazz UpFront is decorated with musical instruments, artwork and news clippings showcasing important moments in music history.
And despite Gaston's deep jazz roots, Jazz UpFront supports all genres of music. The club offers an open mic night on Wednesdays for musicians of any musical background.
The club has been visited by a number of well-known artists, namely Chuchito Valdés, Samara Joy, Bob Baldwin, Brianna Thomas and Brandon Santini.
“To be able to see an artist that has been that explosive and recognized in the jazz community — to have seen them here first — is nothing but a remarkable experience,” said Michael Wheeler, a longtime patron of Jazz UpFront.
“They’ve brought in some crazy, remarkable talent into a small venue.”
Front Street Music Festival
Jazz UpFront also runs the Front Street Music Festival, an annual summer music festival that is free to attend.
“One of my fondest memories here was photographing the street festival a couple years ago," said photographer and friend Natalie Jackson. "It was music all day long — lots of great groups, lots of great people all coming together to listen to and appreciate the music,”
Although the Front Street Music Festival is advertised as a jazz festival, all genres of music are featured.
“Jazz is James’s first love, but he will give an opening to any kind of music. We’ve had it all and we’re open to it all … as long as it’s good,” said Linda Gaston.
The Front Street Music Festival typically takes place in mid-August. An exact date has not yet been set for 2025.
General manager of Jazz UpFront, Molly Ruth Anderson, said she worked for Jazz UpFront in 2018 and was later invited back to run the bar.
“Music has always been a huge part of my life. I love being around live music and I’ve been bartending for eight or nine years now, so it just seemed like a good fit,” Anderson said.
Anderson sings and plays violin and has performed with artists at Jazz UpFront, namely the Erech Bruce Band, Mattie Mae & The Music Makers and Front Street Collective.
“In this area, it’s really the only strictly jazz [or] blues club that you can find without going closer to the city probably,” Anderson said.
Jazz UpFront is celebrating its 10th anniversary throughout this week with a special performance every night until Saturday.
“Considering there were people in town who said a jazz club will only last six months, I think 10 years is pretty good,” Linda said.
