In contrast to most of the jazz bars in New Orleans, The Jazz Playhouse is hip and upscale with a luxurious setting, and yet is strangely intimate. Done in retro style with bright reds, blacks, and blues, the establishment is located inside the Royal Sonesta Hotel on Bourbon Street. It is not a very huge place, and seating is quite plush with wonderful acoustics. There’s even a tree-lined courtyard which makes for a lovely evening, and the place dishes out some fabulous cocktails and food as well. However, it is the music which scores with the likes of such names as the Grammy award winning Irvin Mayfield, Ashlin Parker trio, Andrew Baham, Ricardo Pascal, and the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band among others.