The Blu Note on Rich

A Vision Rooted in History and Family
“The Blu Note on Rich” is more than a jazz club—it’s a personal legacy for owner and investor Derrik Pannell. Growing up in Columbus, Derrik’s earliest memories are tied to the very neighborhood where The Blu Note now stands. His mother once lived in the Rich Street projects, raising Derrik and his brother as a single parent. The same streets where Derrik where he once played as a child are now home to his bold investment in music, culture, and community.

For Derrik, the project is bittersweet. He has watched the area—once predominantly Black—change over the years. Still, he sees jazz, born from African-American roots yet embraced globally, as the perfect cultural anchor for “The Bottoms.” “It’s probably the only thing I could’ve put here that was African-American-based that would survive,” he explains. His father’s career as a jazz musician only deepens the personal tie, making the preservation and celebration of jazz a family legacy as much as a business venture.

The Why Behind the Investment
Acquired in 2024, the two historic buildings housing the Blu Note are among the few survivors of the devastating 1920 flood that shaped “The Bottoms.” One building will be demolished to make way for the Pannell Pavilion, a 200–300 seat outdoor amphitheater dedicated to live music of all genres. The other building, a 10,000-square-foot, three-story structure, will become the daily home of “The Blu Note on Rich.”

This dual vision brings the best of both worlds—intimate nightly jazz indoors, and wide-ranging musical performances outdoors. Whether it’s a saxophone inside or reggae, hip-hop, country, or rock flowing from the pavilion, The Blu Note will be a place where music connects across cultures and generations.

Creating Generational and Cultural Bridges
Derrik’s passion goes beyond business. He is committed to creating spaces where music becomes a shared language—bridging generations and inviting everyone, from children learning to play jazz in school to seasoned enthusiasts. The Blu Note will be a family-friendly jazz club, deliberately welcoming young listeners to experience live music. Derrik believes that preserving jazz requires ushering in the next generation: “If you want to keep something going, you have to capture not just the culture, but the generations.”