My City March 2023

MYMUSIC

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DETROIT BASSIST RALPHE ARMSTRONG AND FRIENDS ARE JUST ONE OF MANY ACCLAIMED ACTS THAT FREQUENT THE SOOTHING TUNES ROOM.

in other jazz masters from across the country such as Ralphe Armstrong, the Black Rose Band, Alexander Zonjic, and Straight Ahead among others. To keep things fresh, the Soothing Tunes Room opens its stage to poets and comedians on special nights. Live shows have a cover charge of $15-$20 at the door. “We want to make sure it is worthwhile for the talent to perform here,” Banks adds. “I’ve been inspired by jazz since I was a young kid,” he shares. “We have places in the area for rock ‘n’ roll, rap, country, blues, etc. and most cater to a

younger crowd. I wanted to offer a place for the ma ture age group. That’s not to say that younger people aren’t welcome – everybody’s welcome. I wanted to create a calm atmosphere where my generation could relax and listen to live jazz.” So, when Banks learned that the former longtime home of the Pachyderm Pub was for sale, he jumped at the opportunity to build his dream. For him, the location at 1408 E. Hemphill Rd. in Burton checked all the boxes. “It was the right size and had freeway access,” he adds. He got to work and began a $300,000 renovation

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