Hi,
There are free blues-jazz/jam sessions from 10pm onwards at the Caveau des Oubliettes (5 rue Galande in the 5th) - they have a cellar bar where people just show up with their instruments and jam on stage (along with a session band). Always a good atmosphere and the standard is usually very high.

There's no entry charge but I believe you have to buy a drink (prices weren't excessive last time I was there, admittedly a few years ago). The schedule is here: http://www.caveaudesoubliettes.com/programation.php - they have different kinds of jam session on different evenings.

It's a fun bar to visit in its own right, by the way, as they have real turf on the floor of the street-level bar, and also have an old guillotine. The cellar bar is actually part of a network of old prison cells (les oubliettes) dating from the middle ages. If you are brave you can go in and visit them (too creepy for me).

Most jazz clubs in Paris don't cost near 25 euro, I think only a few of the really upscale name ones or ones that are really more concerts than just a small jazz club.

The bar in Hotel Aubusson in St Germain has jazz around 9:00 pm and no cover charge, but you have to buy a drink. It's called Cafe Laurent.

There is a small cheap cafe in the Buttes-aux-Cailles neighborhood (in the 13th near Corvisart or place Italie metro), the Cafe du Commerce, that has free entry and live jazz on Sunday afternoons starting at 4 pm. If you are on a budget, you might want to eat there, anyway, as they have cheap food and prix fixe meals. It'a at 39 rue des Cinq Diamants.

The Cameleon jazz club at 57, rue St Andre des Arts in St Germain is pretty well-known, but had a five euro cover charge just a few years ago. YOu'd have to check on its current status. Some jazz clubs are closing -- I think the Sept Lezards on rue des Rosiers closed a few months ago, unfortunately.

The Entrepot near Pernety metro in the 14th arr. is a complex with a lot of arts-related things going on, and some readings and cinema, but they do have some live music. They have jazz, French chanson, etc., and the cover charge is around 7 euro. YOu can check their schedule:
http://www.lentrepot.fr/

The Utopia in the 14th on rue de l'Ouest is also near Pernety metro and one of the few places where you can hear blues in Paris (not jazz). They have a variety of stuff, some jazz or bluesy-jazz, but you'd have to check. They didn't used to have a cover but now I see they are calling themselves a smoking club (due to new laws, I'm sure) so I imagine there is some fee for that "membership" to their association, unless you don't want to go there anyway for that reason.
http://www.utopia-cafeconcert.fr/

There is this place with no cover (it's a cafe, basically) in the Latin Quarter called Aux Trois Mailletz, at 56 rue Galande. When I was there, I was just in the upstairs area (food not so good and overpriced) with a couple performers, one a singer who did opera arias or something, with a pianist accompanist. It wasn't jazz and wasn't a place I'd return for that music (she had an okay voice, but it just wasn't anything I want to hear in a cafe-club and there was no context). I heard this is more of a cabaret in the basement with something more interesting musically, so you might check that out. A professional musician wouldn't be interested in the upstairs part, I don't think.

The Caveau de la Huchette is near there and a very wellknown Paris jazz cellar. It's not free, but not that expensive, I'm sure you could afford it. It's been around forever and would be a real experience, it's very well-known. It's only 11-13 euro cover (cheaper outside weekends, of course).
http://www.caveaudelahuchette.fr

Their drinks are a lot cheaper than some places, also--at some of these clubs or the Hotel Aubusson, the drinks will be more like 10-15 euro.

Wow, wow, and double WOW! Thank you both so much for this detailed information, I love the sound of these places. I am so thrilled to read this, how great! I'm going to transfer all of these notes into my itinerary!

We have been to Pinot Franc a couple of times and enjoyed it. I will be anxious to go back and see what it is like without smoke! They also have a restaurant so you can eat and listen to jazz and skip the cover charge. You walk into what looks like a cafe/bar and are escorted down the stairs to the basement.

Franc Pinot. 1, Quai de Bourbon. Tel: 01 46 33 60 64 Fax: 01 46 33 35 24 [contact: Jean-Marc Verbois. The Franc Pinot is one of the most amospheric jazz clubs in Paris. Listening to live music with naturel acoustics of the old vaulted stone cellars on the Ile St Louis in the heart of Paris is a 'must' if you're a fan of swing and beebop. The bar is open from 7pm and concerts start from 7pm or 9pm depending on the programme. Concert prices vary from 10 to 15 euros depending on the artists]

From the following site:

http://www.jazz-clubs-worldwide.com/docs/france.htm

Check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zy0TnrCMpBE&feature=related

That one is the best; there are several others at Franc Pinot.

Ronda, Thanks for the information, that's so cool because we are staying on the Ile St Louis on Quai d'orleans, just a stone's throw away! The video is great!

Don't tell anyone; I originally read about it in a Rick Steves Paris book. sssshhhhhhhh

bm

Here is a list of jazz clubs with their websites:

http://www.jazzparis.fr/

The Franc Pinot website does not seem to be working, however.

I just wanted to add that I found this great website, www.parisjam.com where you can search for jazz by arrondisment, day of the week, etc. It's great! I'm compiling my notes for our trip! Thanks again for everyone's help!

And I'll add that Franc Pinot has either moved or shut down. We had planned an evening there back in August and it was all boarded up.

StCirq: Thanks for the update, I'll cross that one off my list. What a shame!

I haven't checked the mentioned sites or compared, but not too long ago someone posted an interesting and comprehensive list on the TA Paris forum.

Places we've always been lucky (no cover, inexpensive drinks) are Le Hudon (rue Hudon in Montmartre) and Hippocampus (81 blvd Raspail 6th). We usually drop by for lunch and check the schedule.

Also, check the website for Olivier Lancelot and see if he is appearing in Paris during your visit. Not to be missed! Last I looked, he was appearing at Aux Trois Mailletz one night a week.

Though touristy (we love it just the same), there's lots of wonderful live music of all sorts around Place du Tertre and Montmartre in general. Of course, we do appreciate a dose of the French standards and you can always find some there.