May 29--You know you're in a great nightspot when the chef-owner steps out of the kitchen to croon gorgeous versions of "Almost Like Being in Love" and "I've Got the World on a String," accompanied by his star musicians.
But those were swan songs Thursday night, as Tony Maranto briefly collaborated with singer-pianist Judy Roberts and saxophonist Greg Fishman, her husband, for closing night at Chambers, in Niles.
Maranto and his brother, Joe, have owned the beloved supper club since 1996, but the music has been playing at Chambers since 1972, said Tony Maranto. Uncounted Chicago jazz legends have worked the place, including such deeply missed masters as saxophonist Von Freeman, singer-guitarist Frank D'Rone and singer-pianist Buddy Charles.
No one was more indelibly associated with Chambers, however, than Roberts and Fishman. The saxophonist played there when he was still in high school, in 1983; Roberts started in 1993 (the two became a couple that year and married in 2002). Even after Roberts and Fishman moved to Arizona, in 2007, they spent summers ensconced in the tiny corner that has served as Chambers' easily approached bandstand.
Recently, however, the Maranto brothers received an unsolicited offer to buy the place and decided "it was time for a change," said Tony Maranto. Soon the corner lot at 6881 N. Milwaukee Ave. will become a shop for heating, air conditioning and home remodeling, said Maranto.
Thus old friends and fervent jazz lovers gathered in the intimate room to say goodbye.
"All requests will be granted -- except for Miley Cyrus," said Roberts, as she opened the evening. Indeed she and Fishman performed everything their fans wished to hear, from Charles Mingus and Charlie Parker to Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, in three extended sets.
But when someone asked for the bathed-in-nostalgia "Those Were the Days," Roberts just about lost it.
"I'm getting verklempt," she said, invoking the Yiddish word for emotionally choked up. Fortunately, she had planted a box of tissues nearby.
"This is not just losing a joint," she said to me before the music had begun. "It's losing a family-jazz-community-center. Everyone came in here."
And so they did again, requesting "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" and "Satin Doll," "Take Five" and "Puttin' on the Ritz," "Mister Sandman" and "Unforgettable" (the latter dedicated to Chambers, Roberts told the crowd).
Some fans had been following Roberts across the Chicago area, and beyond, since her tenure at the long-gone London House starting in 1968.
"There aren't too many places like this," said Joyce Simon, describing herself as "a 35-year-old woman trapped in an almost 85-year-old body."
"I love the music, I love the food, I love the atmosphere," added Simon, who eventually strode up to the piano and sang several novelty serenades to Roberts and Chambers.
"It's just an old-fashioned place," said Tighe Zimmers, who has been coming to Chambers for at least a decade. "It reminds you of an old Wisconsin supper club."
Certainly the warmth, intimacy and congeniality of Chambers had no match in the Chicago area. This city does not lack for great jazz rooms, but the combination of casual ambience, sophisticated music-making and easy-going repartee between performers and audience converged uniquely here.
"A lot of great memories," said Fishman, between sets. "This has been the one thing we could count on. A lot of clubs came and went, but we always had Chambers. ... But it was a great run."
Yes it was, for all involved.
As expected, Roberts and Fishman ended the music with the tune that always closed their sets at Chambers, "Route 66." And, as always, when Roberts sang the line "won't you get hip to this timely tip," everyone responded in unison, "get hip, get hip, get hip!"
Which prompted Maranto to reach for the microphone once more.
"Can't wait to see you at the next place," he said, "wherever it's going to be."
If and when he opens another room, we know who will be performing.
Judy Roberts and Greg Fishman will play from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Sundays, starting June 7, at Marie's Pizza, 4127 W. Lawrence Ave.; 773-685-5030; visit judyroberts.com.
Reich is a Tribune critic.
hreich@tribpub.com
