You don’t have to go to a jazz club to see and hear live jazz. I’m not saying you shouldn’t go to a club, just that you have other options. Jazz happens in many places you might not know about -- like restaurants and coffee shops, hotel lobbies and cafes, parks, patios and pizza parlors. In most cases, non-club jazz has an added attraction: no cover charge. But if there’s a tip jar and you like what you hear, you can always show your appreciation in that way.

From today (Aug. 7) through next Friday (Aug. 14), more than 90 live jazz events are scheduled in and around the Twin Cities. (Those are the ones I know about now; there will be more as the week goes on.) New or newish venues include the Three Crows in Delano, which will host the Benny Weinbeck Trio tonight. Crave in the Mall of America,  which took over the old California Café space, has joined its sister restaurant in the Galleria in offering live jazz. Applewood Rustic Grill in Burnsville has convinced some of the Twin Cities’ finest to cross the river and perform. In Richfield, the Chinese restaurant Jun Bo has a bamboo dance floor and features big band music on Tuesday nights. Singer Vic Volare had a good time there earlier this week with the Bella Gala Big Band.

Venturing (very timidly) into health writer Susan Perry’s territory, listening to music can relax you and lower stress levels. An upbeat tempo can stimulate your brainwaves so you feel more alert. Mozart won’t really make you smarter (sorry), but listening to music can make you feel good. Think of it as Vitamin M.

Here’s where to find some, in clubs and elsewhere.

Kevin Washington Quartet. In-demand drummer Washington often plays with other groups and musicians (Jazz is NOW!, Bruce Henry, Nachito Herrera, Moveable Feast, Doug Little, Andres Prado), less often leads his own ensembles. He usually sits in for a tune or two when multi-reeds man James Carter comes to town; Washington’s father, Donald, was Carter’s teacher; his mother, Faye, currently leads the Capri Big Band, heard at last week’s Freedom Jazz Festival. The soulful, powerful drummer brings his impeccable musical genes and his quartet to the AQ for two nights. Friday and Saturday, Aug. 7-8, 9 p.m. Artists’ Quarter ($10).

Bloomington Jazz Festival. Take a chair, a hat, the kids/grandkids, and, if you want, a little dog (we did last year). The site is lovely, the music always pleasing at this annual event. Vic Volare and his Volare Lounge Orchestra begin at 2:30 p.m. The Christine Rosholt Quintet (vocalist Rosholt with Tanner Taylor on piano, Graydon Peterson on bass, Jay Epstein on drums, and Dave Karr on saxophone and flute) starts at 3:50. The George Maurer Jazz Group commences at 5:50. After that, you can go home humming and still have the evening. Food vendors on site; free parking in the Normandale Office tower ramps across the street. Sunday, Aug. 9, 2:30 p.m., Normandale Lake Bandshell, 84th St. and Chalet Road, Bloomington. Free.

Moore by Four. Polished perfection, precise vocal control, and innovative arrangements have been Moore by Four’s signature style since the group’s founding in 1986. Think Manhattan Transfer with a gospel core. Leader, arranger, composer and pianist Sanford Moore and vocalists Yolande Bruce, Ginger Commodore, Connie Evingson, and Dennis Spears are all enjoying busy solo careers and rarely perform as a group anymore. Listen on MySpace, then catch them while you can. Monday, Aug. 10, 7:30 p.m., Old Log Theater in Excelsior ($22; group discounts available). Order tickets online or call 952-474-5951.

Looking ahead: Jazz legend Ramsey Lewis will perform at Orchestra Hall next Thursday, Aug. 13, at 7:30 p.m. Watch for the MinnPost interview on Wednesday.

Pamela Espeland keeps a Twin Cities live jazz calendar and blogs about jazz at Bebopified. She tweets about jazz on Twitter.