We’re all busy with spring activities – cleaning up, setting goals, thinking about summer plans, spending more time outdoors, and deciding what to do for Easter and Passover. There’s no time to escape to New Orleans for their annual Jazz & Heritage Festival, so in honor of Jazz Appreciation Month, DASHA® presents the 10 best places to catch some jazz in the Big Apple!
VILLAGE VANGUARD. The Village Vanguard is an institution, sometimes referred to as “the Carnegie Hall of jazz.” Seating is tight, lighting is low, and the feel is intimate. Arrive early to get the best seats. Miles, Thelonious Monk, and Bill Evans all played here. Tickets are $25, with a one-drink minimum. Village Vanguard is located at 178 7th Ave South between Perry Street and Waverly Place in the West Village (212-255-4037, villagevanguard.com).
BLUE NOTE. The biggest names in jazz around the world are booked into the Blue Note for 6-day runs, and Mondays are reserved for local talent. Sets are at 9:00pm and 11:30pm, and prices are $35 for table reservations, or a $25 cover at the bar. $5 cover charge for Friday and Saturday late night jam sessions. Sunday brunch served 12 Noon to 6pm, with shows at 1:00pm and 3:30pm. The Blue Note is located at 131 W. 3rd St (btwn. 6th Ave. & MacDougal St.) (212-475-8592,www.bluenote.net/newyork/index.shtml).
JAZZ STANDARD. Nestled below barbecue restaurant Blue Smoke, The Jazz Standard hosts the likes of entertainers such as Bill Frisell, Jimmy Cobb and the 10-piece Mingus Big Band on Monday nights. Cover charges range from $20 – $40, but there is no drink minimum. Jazz Standard is located at 116 East 27th Street between Park Ave South and Lexington Ave in Flatiron (212-576-2232, jazzstandard.net).
THE IRIDIUM. Cover charges can climb as high as $40 here, but Les Paul’s old haunt still delivers on some of the best jazz and blues around. $15 food/drink minimum per person. The Iridium is located at 1650 Broadway between 50th and 51st Street in Midtown West (212-582-2121, theiridium.com).
SMOKE JAZZ CLUB: For those who don’t want to travel downtown for their jazz, there’s Smoke Jazz Club on the upper West Side. Cover charges range from $20 – $40, with a food/drink minimum, but the awesome music and delicious southern food do deliver. Smoke Jazz Club is located at 2751 Broadway, between 105th and 106th Street on the Upper West Side (212-864-6662, smokejazz.com).
ARTHUR’S TAVERN. This is NYC’s longest continually running jazz club, and has no cover charge! Shows at 7pm and 9pm Tuesday through Saturday. Blues and R & B on Sunday and Monday from 9pm to 3am, and Tuesday through Saturday 11pm to 3am. Rock the house with The Creole Cooking Jazz Band, Grove Street Stompers, Sweet Georgia Brown, and more! Arthur’s Tavern is located at 57 Grove St. (N.W. corner of Grove and 7th Ave. South at Sheridan Square in the West Village (212-675-6879, www.arthurstavernnyc.com).
BIRDLAND. Music charges at Birdland in the heart of the theater district run from $20 – $25, with a $10 food/drink minimum or a one-drink minimum at the bar. All shows are at 9:00pm and 11:00pm, with 5:30pm tribute sets on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, including The Famous Duke Ellington Orchestra on Tuesdays. Birdland is located at 315 West 44th Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues (212-581-3080,www.birdlandjazz.com).
JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER. Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis heads the programming here, with performances from jazz legends and up-and-comers at the 1,200+ Rose Theater amphitheater, and Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola restaurant. Jazz at Lincoln Center is located at Broadway at 60th Street on the Upper West Side (212-258-9800, jazzatlincolncenter.org).
BARBES. Global music infuses this Park Slope, Brooklyn joint where shows are technically free, but you will be solicited for a $10 donation. Nothing but laid back, good music. Barbes is located at 376 9th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues in Park Slope, Brooklyn (347-422-0248, barbesbrooklyn.com).
SMALLS. Cover charge is $20 (and sometimes free) at this dark cave in the West Village. Full service bar and raw, uncensored music. Smalls is located at 183 West 10th Street between 4th Street and 7th Ave South in the West Village (212-252-5091, smallsjazzclub.com).
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