Charles Burke and the Black Bottom
For several years up until I left Montreal in 1967 you could find me a few nights a week at the Black Bottom, one of the all-time great after hours jazz clubs, on St Antoine in what was the heart of the Black neighbourhood of Montreal, a couple of blocks from the famous Rockhead’s Paradise. The house band featured the legendary guitarist Nelson Symonds, bassist Charlie Biddle, and others whose names I’ll get for you later. The club opened about 11pm. You walkded down a flight of stairs to an uttely packed room that seated maybe 100 at most, you ate chicken wings and the like, and you left somewhere around five or six in the morning. And it was all presided over by owner Charles Burke.
I was last there forty years ago. Two years ago my friend, tenorman Stu Loseby, who had played at the Bottom back then, told me Burke had just moved to Vancouver.
“I have to see him.”
Stu plays a lunch hour gig downtown every Friday so we all met up there and that’s when I took these pictures. I immediately lost contact with Burke again but I just got off the phone with him. He says he’s moving to my neighbourhood the end of next month and promises to have me over and cook me up some of those fabled chicken wings. He’s also working on a history of the Black Bottom so look forward to more interesting historical notes because, frankly, I don’t remember that much.
Here’s Burke and Loseby:
COMMENTS
If a book comes out on the history of the Black Bottom – I need it.
I spent so much time at the one on St. Paul, it was like a second home.
So please post if a book comes out.
Thanks
Geri Newell (Montreal) Saturday, May 17, 2008
August 31st, 2010 at 6:01 pm
I thought a woman by the name of Shirley cooked the amazing food that was offered.
November 16th, 2010 at 11:50 am
While wandering down memory lane on the internet, I ran into this site and my fond memories of the Black Bottom jazz club, Charlie Burke and the most awesome ribs and collard greens I’ve ever had in my entire life. We were the house band there for a while (I played Hammond B3 and Frank LoRusso on drums) and Charlie treated us very well. Those were good times and thanks for the great memories. Hope all is well for you Charlie.
December 16th, 2010 at 2:27 pm
Kevin and Marlo Burke, Charles’ sons, were friends of mine when we were kids. We lived on the same street in LaSalle back in the sixties.
On more than a few occasions I would join Kevin and Marlo on the long bus ride to Old Montreal and the Black Bottom for their music lessons, and to watch the musicians rehearsing in the afternoon before their evening shows.
As I was only twelve at the time I was rather clueless about the music, but still found it pretty cool. Very fond memories.
January 27th, 2011 at 12:01 pm
Hello!
My name is Chantal Prescott, I’m a student in television at UQÀM and we are a couple of student developing a tv show called Coin de Rue which will air on Canal Savoir. Part of the show is about La Petite Bourgogne and it’s surroundings, about the people who were part of it or made a difference (like you Charles Burk, Val Stevens or even Gustavo Fitzwilliam). I would really like to meet somebody who has played or worked or been to the Black Bottom and if possible a person speaking french. The filming is in a 2 weeks so we need to work fast! Thank you you can respond at prescott.chantal@gmail.com.
March 15th, 2011 at 11:15 pm
Loved the Black Bottom, It was our last stop on the way home to Plattsburgh after a great night in Montreal. Hmmm. Maybe the point of being in Montreal in the evening was hanging out until BB opened.
April 11th, 2011 at 10:55 pm
I live on a small street below St-Antoine, running east from Guy Street, called Wrexham Avenue. Charles will no doubt remember the Belmont School that our houses faced across a schoolyard. I’ve been here since 1967 and I remember feeling I’d died and gone to heaven when I discovered the Blackbottom and Nelson Symonds, Charlie Biddles and a variety of drummers and dropping-in musicians including the likes of Miles Davis – a kind of grumpy Miles Davis.
Bob White, who ran Whitey’s Hideaway around the corner off of Aqueduct, is still around town. I’ve often wondered what the exact street address was there. Anyone remember? Put me on the list to buy a copy of Burke’s book when it comes out!
July 28th, 2011 at 2:41 pm
Hi this is Charles Burke, shirley did cook, but that was on St Paul Street
I first started BB on St Antoine St. Not to far from Whit-tees Hida way
there I did the cooking of the Rlbs & Wings, for several years, then on to
Vieux Montreal, St Paul & St Sulpiece, where I then distributed the cooking duties to Shirley. Romeo Lord was the Bartender, a beautiful
person, if one had a problem Romeo would listen, fix you one of his special alcholic mixtures and your whole being would light up. The St Paul street BB was a new bag, it became the Jazz show place for the International Jazz Super Stars, Nelson Symonds Moved on to other heights. Woody Herman. Eddy Harris, Trudy Pitts & Mr C Lifetime T.Williams, Larry Young, John Maglacland, Miles, wayne Shorter.
Whoops I’m soon finished the Book, that;s enough for now
Peace
September 20th, 2011 at 2:57 pm
hope ya remember me my dad was harold batson I grew up in lasalle on Bourbanais with your bnoys marlowe and kevin.As kids we spent alot of time playing around inside the BB while you worked and prepared for the evening openings.Happy to see that your doing a book and yes your cooking was awesome both at home and the BB. me i ate more of your home cooking as I spent alot of my young childhood at your house.Any way my best to you and the family ,let the boys know,I, and my family have nver forgotten yours.please stay in touch .Thanks for the memories Rick batson,Son of Harold and Elise Batson
September 20th, 2011 at 4:50 pm
I am honoured to be mentioned in such high fashion, Yes I did create the Name and found the locations, started the cooking of Chicken Wings, but it was you the attending Public, (audience) who brought the atmosphere and Love, (true recipie for a kick ass joint) special thanks to Brian Nation, Nelson Symonds, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Alfie Wade, Billy Gerogett. Romeo Lord, Trudy Pitts & Mr C, the list goes on and on
My humble thanks to all
Charles Burke
Chaslejazz@aol.com
September 20th, 2011 at 4:59 pm
Hey Rick where are you these days, yes I do remember you and your family, do hope all are well, will definetly mentioned you to the guy
as Bob Hope sez thanks for thr memories. we are all located in Van.BC
each doing our thang, both Marlowe & Kevin are Married, working and enjoying life, pray this is the same for you and your family, give a shout out from the Burkes, Diane is no longer with us
Stay well, write soon
Chaslejazz
Chaslejazz@aol.com
October 6th, 2011 at 7:41 pm
For VAL STEVENS…I remember a few nights at the black bottom when you and frank played…you guys had a unique sound…..talk about strolling down memory lane…man that’s over 40 yrs ago…
December 3rd, 2011 at 8:30 am
II had a weekly jazz review column in the McGill Daily from 1962 to 1965 and was a sometime jazz pianist. My wife Annie and I conducted our courtship partly at the Black Bottom and I can say I really discovered my passion for live jazz there, not to mention the incredible chicken wings.
I once wrote a humorous column entitled “Notes From the Underbottom”
(evoking Dostoevsky”s “Notes From the Underground”), describing the fiery jazz of Nelson Symonds and Charles Biddle, the incomparable chicken wings, and Charlie Burke and his walrus moustache. When Annie and I got married after graduating from McGill, at the end of a reception evening that was rather depressing because it was attended mostly by relatives and friends of our parents, there was a knock at the door. It was George, our friend who worked at the Black Bottom, with a bucket of chicken wings that he cooked up in the kitchen and that saved the evening. We live now in Seattle, where I play music once in a while, but we often visit friends in Vancouver, where we lived for awhile. We would love to see Charles again and certainly put us down for the book.
December 29th, 2011 at 12:54 am
Hi! I vaguely remember some hazy nights between 1970-1972 at the St-Paul BB. Charlie was the best.
December 29th, 2011 at 4:33 pm
I knew nothing about the Black Bottom until Charlie’s wife stated to work for the same firm I was working for. She introduced me to Charlie and of course “The Black Bottom”. As Mark Beaton just said, him and I had great times at the BB. I will never forget that place, it is right in my heart!!
January 30th, 2012 at 5:41 pm
WHITEY”S HIDEAWAY
For whoever was asking, it was located at 785 Aquaduct.