 |
55
Bar 55 Christopher St. (btwn. 7th Ave. So. &
Waverly Place) (212) 929-9883.
Leni and Mike Stern hold court, also Sweet Georgia Brown,
Billy Bang and Wayne Krantz. $3 cover and 2 drink min. Weeknight
shows begin at 9:30 pm. Early show Friday and Saturday are
from 6:00 - 9:30 pm. Friday and Saturday late shows begin
at 10:00 pm. Get there early because the club is small and
Mike Stern packs them in. Expect a $15 cover on Mike Stern
nights, but that includes 2 drinks. |
|
American
Museum of Natural History On 81st St. off Central
Park West (Hayden Planetarium) (212) 769-5100.
Fridays under The Sphere at the Rose Center for Earth and
Space. Others will know it as the Hadyn Planetarium. There
are two sets weekly (5:45 / 7:15 PM) by highly regarded
musicians such as Jimmy Heath, Lou Donaldson, Steve Turre,
and David "Fathead" Newman and their quartets.
The show admission is included with museum price (suggested
donation), and drinks and tapas are available. This is the
early Friday show to make, especially if you haven't been
to the complex before -- it will surely impress even the
most jaded. |
|
Arthur's
Tavern 57 Grove St. (N.W. corner of Grove and
7th Ave. South at Sheridan Square) 212-675-6879.
Since 1937. Longest continually run jazz club in NYC. No
cover charge. Jazz: 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Dixieland jazz: 8 p.m. - 11 p.m. Sunday and Monday. Blues
and R&B from 9 p.m. - 3 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday
and 11 p.m. - 3 a.m. Sunday and Monday. The Creole Cooking
Jazz Band, Grove Street Stompers and Sweet Georgia Brown
have been playing here weekly forever, and for good reason:
they rock the house. |
|
Birdland
315 West 44th Street (btwn. 8th and 9th) 212-581-3080.
All show times: 9:00 and 11:00 P.M. (with early 5:30 tribute
sets added to the Mon., Tues. and Fri. schedules). Music
charge varies, $20-35. There is a $10 food/drink minimum
per person at the tables. At the bar, the music charge includes
one drink. The namesake
club to the great Charlie Parker, this room is doing great
since re-locating from uptown. The top names of jazz
appear here (Tony Williams played one of his last gigs here),
and it has been the home to big bands every Sunday and Monday
night. The food is pretty good, and the bar is right
next to the bandstand. |
|
Blue
Note Jazz Club - 131 West 3rd Street, between
6th avenue and MacDougal St., (212) 475-8592.
The most expensive club in the City - world renowned. Only
the biggest acts in jazz (i.e. B.B. King, Chick Corea, Oscar
Peterson, Betty Carter, etc.). |
|
Blue
Water Grill 31 Union Square West (Corner West
16th St.) (212) 675-9500.
Fine restaurant with live jazz booked for downstairs dining
area. Call for reservations. No cover, but meals are high
end. Website does not mention who's playing, indicating
that the jazz is an afterthought. That is, they don't book
musicians who are in a position to complain if the audience
noise level starts to peak. Call for performance calendar. |
|
The
Cajun 129 Eighth Ave. (btwn. 16th & 17th
Streets) 212-691-6174.
Dixieland and swing nightly 8 - 11 as backdrop to a New
Orleans dining experience. Sunday brunches and Wednesday
lunches are also accompanied by live music. |
|
Cleopatra's
Needle 2485 Broadway (btwn. 92nd & 93rd)
212-769-6969.
Music from 9 pm - 4 am. No cover. $10. min. per set. Eclectic
menu, big screen sports and weekly showcases, featuring
Eric Lewis Trio on Mondays. And nightly open jams from 2
am - 4 am. Jazz vocalists open mic every Sunday 1 to 5 pm. |
|
Detour - 349 East 13th Street (just
west of First Avenue). (212) 533-6212. This "No
Cover" jazz bar has been featuring up-and-coming stars
of the New York Jazz Scene for over 10 years now and has
become home to some of the most interesting, swingingest,
eclectic musicians around. With a bar overflowing in international
beers to match the patrons who come from around the world,
you can't go wrong with this venue. And please don't forget
to tip the musicians! |
|
Fat
Cat 75 Christopher Street
(at 7th Ave. South) (212) 675-6056.
This club is "around the corner pocket" from Smalls
and features billiards and jazz. $10 admission for 6 hours
of music from 10pm-4am Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Fat
Cat is the little brother of Smalls and features a similar
posture and roster. It has reopened after wrinkles have
been ironed out, check it out and tell us what you think. |
|
The
Garage 99 7th Ave. South (Just South
of W 4th St.) 212-645-0600.
An open and spacious restaurant with a gregarious liquor
bar / oyster bar. Aspiring jazz groups nightly, usually
fronted by a vocalist. No cover. Plenty of outdoor seating
in good weather. Sunday Jazz Brunch begins at noon. |
|
Iridium
Jazz Club - 1650 Broadway (at 51st St), (212)
582-2121.
Top internationally known artists play six day runs, and
Les Paul Trio every Monday. Sets: Mon. - Thurs. 8:30 and
10:30. Fri. & Sat 3rd Set at Midnight. Minimum cover
charge: $20.00. $10.00 Drink Min. |
|
Jazz
Gallery 290 Hudson St.
(Corner of Spring) (212) 242-1063.
A second floor jazz art and artist showcase. Call ahead
for events. Most nights sets begin at 9:00 and 10:30 for
a $10 -$20 cover charge. The Jazz Gallery performance series
are funded in part by a grant from the New York State Council
on the Arts, Presenting Program. |
|
The
Jazz Standard - 116 East 27th St (btwn. Lexington
and Park Ave South) (212) 576-2232.
This elegant club is a terrific addition to the jazz scene,
serving up big jazz names (George Coleman) and other up-and-comers.
Sometimes the cover charge is reduced on shows early
in the week. They serve food, and although the bar is really
far from the bandstand, the sound is terrific! |
|
Jules
65 St. Marks Pl. (btwn. 1st & 2nd Aves.) 212-477-5560.
A friendly, and casual French bistro with some outdoor seating,
great food and abundant wine selection, and a deep love
of jazz. Jazz nightly starting at 9:00 on weekdays and 11:00
on weekends. No cover. Jean Michel Pilc and other noteworthy
artists perform here. Sunday jazz brunch starts at 12:00
and goes till 3:00. |
|
Knickerbocker
Saloon 33 University Place (at 9th St.)
212-228-8490.
Opened in 1978. $5.00 minimum on food or drink -- specializing
in gigantic steaks. Jazz music presented Wed. through Sat.
Often featuring legends with stars as bright as Sir Roland
Hanna, Junior Mance, Mulgrew Miller, Billy Drummond, and
Earl May. This is the last hold out in an area that was
once a Golden Triangle of informal jazz haunts including
the venues: The Village Gate, Bradleys and The Cookery. |
|
The
Knitting Factory - 74 Leonard Street (4 blocks
south of Canal), (212) 219-3006.
Much more avant-garde...large performance space with two
or three acts per night.
This is the granddaddy long legs of "downtown
jazz" venues -- featuring a genre bending blend of
envelope pushing and utterly deserving acts on several intimate
stages throughout the deceptively vast complex. There are
too many shows to mention so just go to their web site calendar
or call them directly to attain schedule and ticket information. |
|
The
Lenox Lounge 288 Lenox Ave. (btwn.
124th & 125th St.) 212-427-0253
Recently renovated to its original 1930's art deco splendor.
The Zebra Room in back with its baby grand piano, tiled
floors and leather banqueted booths is one of the finest
looking jazz spaces in town. Local jazz booked on weekends
with a $15 cover charge and 2 drink minimum. The 3 Sets
are 10:00, 11:30 and 1:00. Blues and R & B Thursday
sets are free to attend with a 2 drink minimum – music from
8:00-12:00. $5 cover and 2 drink minimum for Monday night
jazz jam sessions. Doors open at 10:00 PM for first set
and jam follows at 11:30. |
|
Showman's
375 West 125th Street (East of Morningside Ave.)
212-864-8941.
Next door to the down-home, soul food mecca: M & G Diner
M - Th Sets: 8:30, 10, 11:30. Friday and Saturday Sets:
10:30, 12:30, 2:30. Two drink minimum per set. Jazz tap
dancing on Thursdays. A beautiful blending of the genteel
with the earthy soul histories of Harlem can be found in
this well appointed local showcase, which has been home
to the greats (e.g. Sara Vaughan, Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington,
Eartha Kitt) since 1942. (In its current location since
August of 1998). A Hammond B-3 organ graces the stage, and
is put to good use by Danny Mixon -- check the schedule.
Soul food appetizers are always available for the asking. |
|
Smoke
2751 Broadway (at 106th St) 212-864-6662
Picking up where Augie's (its forerunner) left off, Smoke
has developed into a hip and casually swank jazz joint with
the chops and personalities to recommend it to serious fans
of NY jazz. Sets at 9, 11, 12:30. Bar closes at 4:00. $10
drink tickets serve as the cover charge. Big name acts could
cost quite a bit more, and reservations are a must on those
special occasions. Monday and Thursday night jam sessions
encourages vocalists and players to step up. |
|
S.O.B.'s
- 204 Varick @ Houston Street, (212) 243-4940. Only Latin
and Brazilian bands here. More mainstream music than
Sweet Basil or Iridium. Pretty expensive, but the
bar is near the bandstand. Dinner and dancing served! |
|
Sofia's
221 W. 46th St. (btwn. 8th Ave. & Broadway)
(212) 719-5799.
This is the Italian restaurant at the 1931 Edison Hotel
which features jazz music in its bar Tuesdays - Saturdays
7:00 P.M. to 12:00. Call ahead for schedule. No Cover. |
|
St.
Nick's Pub 773 St. Nicholas Blvd. (Corner of
149th St.) 212-283-9728.
Best Monday night jam session in the city. The scene gets
kicking at midnight. There is a tourist scene prior to the
Monday jam with Patience Higgins and the Sugar Hill Jazz
Quartet driving the festivities beginning at 9:30. For the
last half dozen years, Friday nights have belonged to the
Bill Saxton Trio...highly recommended! Thursday features
the club's charming singing bartender, Arlene Talley. Guest
artists frequently stop by to sit in. Among them: James
Carter, Olu Dara, Savion Glover, Reggie Workman, Wynton
Marsalis, Laurel Watson, Etta Jones, even Stevie and Aisha
Wonder. |
|
Swing
46 349
W. 46th Street (btwn. 8th & 9th Aves.) 212-262-9554.
Swing dance & supper club. Featuring Live Bands - Swing
& Jump Blues 7 Nights a week. Each night there is a
dance lesson at 9:15 pm followed by a live swing band. Sunday
- Wednesday the ticket price is $7. Thursday - Saturday
it's $12. Suggested dress code - no jeans or sneakers and
Jackets are not required. |
|
Tonic
107 Norfolk St (btwn. Delancey
& Rivington) 212-358-7501.
Sets vary beginning either 8:00 or 10:00 for $10. A midnight
show might cost $5. Happily, no pretensions past those usually
associated with the avant-garde. Down below there can be
found a dj spinning in the Subtonic Lounge Thurs.- Sats.
Sunday brunch features the klezmer band of the week. This
is the one club to visit if you want to mix an earthy community
vibe with a good night of esoteric sounds. |
|
The
Village Vanguard - 178 7th Avenue South at 11th
Street, (212) 255-4037. Ahhhhh...home sweet home...the
oldest jazz club in the world, this place is alive with
the ghosts of Miles Davis, Bill Evans, John Coltrane, and
Stan Getz. You name the jazz musician and he (or she) has
played here! Sets are at 9:00pm and 11:00pm (with a 12:30am
set on Friday and Saturday nights). Usually a $15 cover
w/a $10 minimum. No food served, but it doesn't matter since
the sound of the room is appetizing enough. By far, the
best room in the land. But beware, the service can be downright
awful! |
|
Zinc
Bar 90 W. Houston St. (btwn.
Thompson St. & LaGuardia Pl) 212-477-8337.
Open 7 days, 6 P.M. -
3:30 A.M. on weeknights, and till 4 A.M. on weekends. $5
cover and a one drink min. Weekly theme nights dominate
the schedule. Monday showcases the guitar trio of Ron Affif
at 8:00 and 9:00. Featured bands play 3 sets Mon. -Thurs.
at 10:30, 12, and 2:00. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are jazz
nights, while Thursdays are Latin, Fridays are African and
Saturdays are Brazilian Bossa Nova. Fri. and Sat. the first
set starts at 11. Sundays bring poetry readings at 6:30,
and Brazilian Samba groups into the night. A lounge exists
in back for larger parties to hang and meet friends. |
|
BigAppleJazz.com
- Gordon Polatnick's fantastic site of resources for the
jazz community in New York City. He's got it all covered
here, from jazz links to jazz festivals to jazz shopping
to jazz-you-name-it! His site is a one-stop shop for all-jazz-all-the-time
in New York City! |
|
New
York.City Search.com- A complete listing and description
of every other jazz club in New York. |
|
The
Village Voice Choices
- Detailed reviews of current jazz events and other music.
|
