Denton restaurant offers outlet for student musicians

by Corey Hennigan of North Texas Daily

As a barrage of rain pounded Denton on Monday and diners and drinkers mingled with friends, the Pete Weise Quintet met in Greenhouse Restaurant's darkened bar for a night of playing electric jazz.

From 10 p.m. to midnight every Monday and Thursday, local jazz musicians have the opportunity to play in the bar.

The restaurant, at 600 N. Locust St., opened in 1998 in what was once Selby's Florist and provides something different for everyone. Each room in the restaurant has a contrasting theme and design.

Whether it's the shelf of Motorola, Westinghouse and Crossley radios in the bar that date from the 1940s and '50s, the fish tank in the Garden Room or the scenes of vineyards and fields painted on the walls of the Hamilton Room, the restaurant offers funky and artistic surroundings for diners to admire with their meals.

"I think it's pretty good," Weise said. "It's kind of a cool place to go and hang and try out new material. The music there is generally pretty good."

Owner Ken Currin said the restaurant has an eclectic menu, offering everything from soup and salad to hamburgers and steaks.

Currin said the musicians themselves inspired the Monday and Thursday jazz shows, and it's their time and place to play.

"At the time we started, there was no place for students to play jazz," he said. "They approached us and asked if they could play Monday nights, and it went well, so they asked for another night. So we've been doing this for eight years."

Currin said it was predominantly members of the One and Two O'Clock lab bands who played the shows, which were designed to give them the freedom to play what they want.

"It's worth a shot trying to get in," Weise said. "It's cool that the Greenhouse lets you play what you want and doesn't pressure you."

Booking information can be found at myspace.com/greenhousejazz, and information about the restaurant, menu and drink lists can be found at greenhouserestaurantdenton.com.