“This neighbourhood cocktail bar is the place to meet the locals.”

~ Monocle Magazine
Over 18,077 Old Fashioneds Enjoyed
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Sunday - Thursday: 4pm - 11pm
Friday - Saturday: 4pm - 1am
FREE PARKING AT 5-POINTS DINER AFTER 4p!
All events are FREE and run from 7 - 10 unless otherwise posted.
Seating is on a first come, first served basis, some come early and stay late!
Click on an Event below to read the full description.
Monday
April 1

The Steve Alford Trio

A multi-instrumentalist specializing in the performance and education of contemporary improvisational music, Steve Alford spent multiple years on the road across the United States and Europe. He settled in Chicago in the late ’90s and began pursuing an in-depth study of harmony clarinets, appearing regularly on both saxophone and bass clarinet in the straight-ahead jazz, modern improvised music, and experimental indie-rock scenes across the Midwest.

Relocating to Asheville, North Carolina, after a decade in Illinois, Alford was serving as an adjunct professor of jazz and contemporary music at the University of North Carolina-Asheville while he completed his master’s degree in jazz at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Concurrently he developed a new contemporary music pedagogy focusing on multilateral ear training, multi-instrumental rhythm section methods class, "mind's ear" sonic exploration and melodic immersion. During a brief return to the northern Midwest United States, he took over as coordinator for jazz and contemporary improvisation studies at the University of Minnesota Morris, bringing his curriculum of modern multi-genre improvisation study grounded in traditional jazz roots to that university system.

During the past decade, he has composed, produced and recorded his most adventurous music to date including his acclaimed 11-piece modern big band, the multi-genre improvisation-based collective known as Rational Discourse; the E.Normus Trio, an alto clarinet, N/S Stick and drums trio within the punk-jazz genre; his quintet METAL, composed of two trash can drum systems, two double bassists, and Alford on electrified contra-alto clarinet and electrified English horn; and his new standards jazz trio and quartets, each reimagining small group jazz through an open and free approach to harmony while remaining grounded in tradition.

Steve Alford: Saxophone
Matt Rybicki: Bass
Alan Hall: Drums

Tuesday
April 2

Jay Sanders, Will Boyd, Zack Page & Evan Martin

Every Tuesday, savor experimental Musica Universalis focused primarily on the group's original writing and sonic explorations. These aural wayfarers fear no boundary.

Jay Sanders: Guitar and Effects
Will Boyd: Reeds
Zack Page: Bass and Effects
Evan Martin: Drums and Percussion

Tuesday
April 9

Jay Sanders, Will Boyd, Zack Page & Alan Hall

Every Tuesday, savor experimental Musica Universalis focused primarily on the group's original writing and sonic explorations. These aural wayfarers fear no boundary.

With a musical career spanning 30 years, Composer, producer, and guitarist Jay Sanders thrives on actualizing creative spaces for improvisational and exploratory music.

Multi-reed instrumentalist, composer, and educator Will Boyd hails from soul sax tradition like artists Eddie Harris, Hank Crawford, David "Fat Head" Newman, King Curtis and Johnny Hodges. Originally from Orangeburg SC by way of Queens NY, Will now resides in Asheville.

Alan Hall has been a professional drummer for over 45 years. A prodigious composer, Alan also leads the Asheville Jazz Collective, a staple of Little Jumbo's Monday jazz series.

Let's be honest, if you enjoy live music in Asheville, NC, and you don't know the singularity known as Zack Page, you've clearly been living under a rock. One of the area's most sought after musicians, Zack brings his zeal for the absurd to each thunderous emanation.

Jay Sanders: Guitar and Effects
Will Boyd: Reeds
Zack Page: Bass and Effects
Alan Hall: Drums and Percussion

Tuesday
April 16

Jay Sanders, Will Boyd, Zack Page & Alan Hall

Every Tuesday, savor experimental Musica Universalis focused primarily on the group's original writing and sonic explorations. These aural wayfarers fear no boundary.

With a musical career spanning 30 years, Composer, producer, and guitarist Jay Sanders thrives on actualizing creative spaces for improvisational and exploratory music.

Multi-reed instrumentalist, composer, and educator Will Boyd hails from soul sax tradition like artists Eddie Harris, Hank Crawford, David "Fat Head" Newman, King Curtis and Johnny Hodges. Originally from Orangeburg SC by way of Queens NY, Will now resides in Asheville.

Alan Hall has been a professional drummer for over 45 years. A prodigious composer, Alan also leads the Asheville Jazz Collective, a staple of Little Jumbo's Monday jazz series.

Let's be honest, if you enjoy live music in Asheville, NC, and you don't know the singularity known as Zack Page, you've clearly been living under a rock. One of the area's most sought after musicians, Zack brings his zeal for the absurd to each thunderous emanation.

Jay Sanders: Guitar and Effects
Will Boyd: Reeds
Zack Page: Bass and Effects
Alan Hall: Drums and Percussion

Monday
April 22

Hillai Govreen

Little Jumbo is pleased to welcome Hillai Govreen in conjunction with South Arts.

Hillai Govreen is a clarinetist, saxophonist and composer based in New York. The Hillai Govreen Quartet is a dynamic NYC-based band born from the collaboration of Hillai and bassist Ben Meigners just two years ago. Their innovative compositions and repertoire drawn from a diverse array of influences, blending various musical styles to create a unique sound that transcends time and genre boundaries, echoing the essence of past, present, and future.

Hillai has played and collaborated with international musicians including George Cables, Arturo O’farill, Anat Cohen, George Colligan, Steve Cardenas, Joseph Pepe Danze, Gino Sitson and Harold Rubin. She has toured in Europe, Israel and the U.S.

Hillai Govreen: Reeds
Yago Vazquez: Piano
Ben Meigners: Bass
Willie Bowman: Drums

Tuesday
April 23

Asheville Jazz Collective

Composer and Drummer Alan Hall has performed and/or recorded with international jazz artists Lee Konitz, Paul McCandless, Art Lande, Ed Simon, Geoffrey Keezer, Kenny Washington, Rebecca Parris, and Joyce Cooling. He has taught at Berklee College of Music, California Jazz Conservatory, Monterrey Jazz Festival Middle School and High School Summer Camp, JazzCamp West, Cal State East Bay, and Lafayette Summer Music Jazz Camp

Seeking a broader palette for his compositions, has added several new musicians to his quintet, Asheville Jazz Collective. The new line-up will definitely bump up the eclectic factor! We hope you can come along for the ride.

Alan Hall: Drums
Bill Bares: Piano
Dylan Hannan: Reeds
Ariana Varvaro: Oboe
Allen Watsky: Acoustic & Electric Guitar
Josef Butts: Bass

Tuesday
April 30

Jay Sanders, Will Boyd, Zack Page & Alan Hall

Every Tuesday, savor experimental Musica Universalis focused primarily on the group's original writing and sonic explorations. These aural wayfarers fear no boundary.

With a musical career spanning 30 years, Composer, producer, and guitarist Jay Sanders thrives on actualizing creative spaces for improvisational and exploratory music.

Multi-reed instrumentalist, composer, and educator Will Boyd hails from soul sax tradition like artists Eddie Harris, Hank Crawford, David "Fat Head" Newman, King Curtis and Johnny Hodges. Originally from Orangeburg SC by way of Queens NY, Will now resides in Asheville.

Alan Hall has been a professional drummer for over 45 years. A prodigious composer, Alan also leads the Asheville Jazz Collective, a staple of Little Jumbo's Monday jazz series.

Let's be honest, if you enjoy live music in Asheville, NC, and you don't know the singularity known as Zack Page, you've clearly been living under a rock. One of the area's most sought after musicians, Zack brings his zeal for the absurd to each thunderous emanation.

Jay Sanders: Guitar and Effects
Will Boyd: Reeds
Zack Page: Bass and Effects
Alan Hall: Drums and Percussion

Sunday
April 14

Authors in Conversation with Denise Kiernan and Terry Roberts

Denise Kiernan is an author, journalist, producer, and host of “CRAFT: Authors in Conversation.” Her new young reader’s book, We Gather Together: Stories of Thanksgiving from then to now, arrived September 2023, and is a companion title to the popular adult nonfiction book, We Gather Together, and children’s picture book, Giving Thanks. Her book The Last Castle was an instant New York Times bestseller in both hardcover and paperback and was also a Wall Street Journal bestseller. She is also the author of The Girls of Atomic City, which is a New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and NPR bestseller and has been published in multiple languages. She lives in North Carolina.

Terry Roberts is the author of five celebrated novels: A Short Time to Stay Here (winner of the Willie Morris Prize for Southern Fiction and the Sir Walter Raleigh Award for Fiction); That Bright Land (winner of the Thomas Wolfe Literary Award, the James Still Award for Writing About the Appalachian South and the Sir Walter Raleigh Award for Fiction); The Holy Ghost Speakeasy and Revival (Finalist for the 2019 Sir Walter Raleigh Award for Fiction); My Mistress’ Eyes are Raven Black (Finalist for the 2022 Best Paperback Original Novel by the International Thriller Writers Organization); and most recently, The Sky Club, released in July of 2022. Roberts is the Director of the National Paideia Center and lives in Asheville, North Carolina with his wife, Lynn.

Free
Doors open at 4:00 PM. Conversation starts no later than 4:30 PM. No registration is required. Seating is first come, first served.

Little Jumbo is pleased to join local booksellers Malaprops for CRAFT: Authors in Conversation, a series conceived and hosted by New York Times bestselling author Denise Kiernan.


CRAFT’s concept is simple:

New York Times best-selling author Denise Kiernan will sit down with a writer in this speakeasy setting to discuss not only the writer’s latest publication, but also the craft of writing itself. For each featured author, the Little Jumbo staff will create a specialty cocktail—or mocktail—inspired by either the featured book or the author themselves.

WHO

Denise, sitting down with authors from all walks—literary fiction, nonfiction, graphic novelists, mystery authors, romance writers, TV and film folks…You get the idea.

WHAT

An hour of conversation about the guest author’s work, writing process and more, with time for audience questions. Conversations are followed by an author signing. Books provided by Malaprop’s.

WHERE

Little Jumbo, located at 241 Broadway Street in Asheville, a bar and then some, offering classic and classically-inspired craft cocktails, food, games, and more.

WHEN

The second Sunday of every month. Doors open at 4. Conversation starts no later than 4:30 PM.

Wednesday
April 10

Backgammon Night

Roll the Dice and Sip in Style. The second Wednesday of each month is Backgammon Night at Little Jumbo! Gather your friends, roll 'em bones, and let the games begin. Cheers to strategic moves and fantastic cocktails! Legal moves only! A ha!

Sunday
March 31

Meschiya Lake

Someone once coined the term “Punk Jazz” to describe Meschiya Lake’s style. From eating glass on the sideshow circuit to fronting the Danish National Symphony, Ms. Lake has led bands and danced across stages the world over. Her recording career has seen her alongside the likes of Mr Tom Waits and netted her the Vocal Jazz Album of the Year at the 2019 Danish Grammy’s, among multiple other music awards. A country music child star, and based out of New Orleans for two decades, she blends her musical roots with her extensive knowledge of traditional jazz. At once contagiously danceable, and emotionally moving, Meschiya Lake swings and croons her way throughout a diverse array of powerful performances.

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“This Five Points neighborhood bar takes cocktail history seriously—it’s named after a New York bar once run by illustrious nineteenth-century barman Harry Johnson. The drinks menu recently was revamped after a pandemic-long season of sampling and testing. (Yes, that beats however you spend your pandemic.) There’s no better excuse to pull up a seat and see what’s new and delicious.”

“Little Jumbo was everything we could have wished for in a cocktail bar, and then some. Every cocktail has 5 ingredients or less to expedite the process, but don’t worry, the flavor is not compromised. We were totally impressed by the Manhattan service for Two, which was presented on a silver platter with necessary accompaniments- including a bowl of cherries!?”

“Simply put, Little Jumbo should be at the top of your list of places for cocktails in Asheville. The drinks and service are both top-notch, and the atmosphere is reminiscent of a relaxed speakeasy, without a trace of the pretention that can sometimes be found in such places.”

“This warmly welcoming cocktail bar has a classic vibe and a focus on good, unpretentious service. Isn't that the way all bars should be?”

“Little Jumbo has a comfortable yet modern feel, lacks affectation and focuses on the drink and the experience.”

“As you sip your drink, you feel a cozy intimateness, yet there’s a buzz to the atmosphere that makes you feel like you’re a part of something bigger… a community, a neighborhood.”

Slings & Arrows Consulting is a full-service boutique hospitality firm from the team behind Little Jumbo. Slings & Arrows is designed to turn your idea into a fully realized and cohesive bar/restaurant concept. Our work is driven by a desire to create spaces and foster endeavors focused on excellent service and quality drinks.

Developers, future clients, soon-to-be collaborators, enthusiasts and friends: learn more at slingsarrowsconsulting.com or email us at hello@slingsarrowsconsulting.com