Spanning more than 50 years and several locations, founder Joe Segal has become synonymous with jazz in Chicago. His son, Wayne, recently took over the business, but this latest venue in the River North restaurant and entertainment district is the spiffiest yet, a spacious and handsome room with sharp black-and-white photographs of jazz greats, many of whom have passed through Segal's clubs. There are two shows a night, and reservations are recommended for big-name headliners. Such well-regarded musicians as McCoy Tyner, Clark Terry, Maynard Ferguson, and Ahmad Jamal have made appearances in recent years. The Segals make an effort to cultivate new generations of jazz lovers, too: The club admits all ages (free for children under 12), has a nonsmoking policy, and offers a Sunday 4pm matinee show. The Segals's latest outpost is the new Joe's Be-bop Cafe and Jazz Emporium at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave. (tel. 312/595-5299), a Southern-style barbecue restaurant with live music nightly.