Le Chat Qui Pêche
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Jazz venue, Restaurant |
| Founded | mid-1950s |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
Area served | Latin Quarter, Paris |
Key people | Madame Ricard |
| Products | Live jazz performances, Dining |
Le Chat Qui Pêche is a jazz venue and dining establishment in Paris, established in the mid-1950s. It occupies a basement space on rue de la Huchette, situated within the Latin Quarter on the left bank of the Seine.
The club was overseen by Madame Ricard, who had been part of the French Resistance during World War II. She was noted for her nurturing support of musicians, often providing accommodation for them in an apartment directly above the venue. Drummer Jimmy Wormworth, performing there in 1957 with his American Jazz Quintet, credited their popularity with enabling Ricard to draw prominent American jazz performers and expand the club by adding an additional floor.
During the 1960s, Le Chat Qui Pêche welcomed many jazz greats, including Bud Powell, Chuck Israels, Chet Baker, Eric Dolphy, Jackie McLean, Johnny Griffin, Lucky Thompson, Oscar Pettiford, and Donald Byrd. Notably, Byrd’s 1958 live album Au Chat Qui Peche ranks among his earliest recordings as a bandleader.
The establishment remained active until 1970 when Madame Ricard sold the business license. Today, the location continues as a restaurant bearing the same name.