NYC Jazz hangs

A personal list of places to hang, if you are visiting New York and are interested in jazz. Where to go and what to pay!

55 Bar, 55 W Christopher St: Great jazz venue with a long tradition of presenting top musicians like Mike Stern, Chris Potter, Antonio Sanchez and up and comming talent. The Early sets are free and late sets are about 10$. This is where you will get most New York atmosphere for your buck!

Barbes, 376 9th Street at Sixth Avenue, Park Slope, Brooklyn. Brooklyn Avantgarde jazz with performers such as Tim Berne, Tony Malaby and more.

Birdland, 315 W 44th St: Jazz Club that presents mainstream artists and concepts. Restaurant and bar. Admission usually 25-30$ and a 10$ drink minimum. A seat at the bar will save you some money. The bar is situated closely to the stage with a good view to the performance.

Blue Note, 131 W 3rd St: Blue Note is mostly for Japanese tourists and business travelers. Mainstream jazz from Kenny G to Chick Corea. Restaurant and souvenir shop. Extremely expensive admission (if seated expect 50$ charge). The bar is far away from the stage. However, Blue Note offers students free admission on Wednesdays. Bring your student id.

Cleopatra’s Needle, Broadway Bt. 92nd and 93rd St:Jazz club with local artists and jam sessions every night after the show. Usually with musicians studying at Manhattan School of Music and Columbia University. 10$ drink minimum per set. Nice New Yorker atmosphere and wide-screen baseball on the wall behind the bar.Coffee Shop, Union Square: Music from Brazil every Saturday from 1pm to 5pm. Some of the greatest Brazilian artists practicing their repertoire. Good looking bartenders and waitresses. A wonderful place to heal a hangover!

Cornelia Street Cafe, 29 Cornelia St: Jazz and poetry on the scene located in the cellar below the restaurant. Usually inexpensive. The artists decide the admission. The artists can be anyone from the unknown to Brad Meldau and George Garzone.

Dizzy Club Coca Cola, Broadway at 60th Street. Jazz at Lincoln Center. Mainstream jazz with Eric Reed, Wynton Marsalis and all that jazz.

The Fat Cat, Christopher Street: The former owner of the jazz club Smalls has started this jazz spot with a nice relaxed atmosphere. Jazz three times a week. Usually artists like Kurt Rosenwinkel, Sam Yahel, Mark Turner a.o. Admission is 15$.

Gishen, 135th St. and 5 Ave: Small Brownstone club with jam sessions twice a week and a tap dance session once a week. No admission. Local Harlem spot - very cozy, but it’s difficult to get a cab home.

Iridium, Time Square: Expensive jazz club with bad food and cheesy furniture. Admission is 25$ and a 10$ drink minimum. Discount during business days with a student id. Performers like Kenny Barron, Benny Green and Ahmad Jamal.

Jazz Gallery, 290 Hudson St: A small non profit jazz club at Hudson Street. 10$ admission. Here you can hear everyone who’s going to be someone within the next decade.

Jazz Standard, 116 E 27th St: A new jazz club with style. East Manhattans answer to Village Vanguard and Birdland. 25$ cover and 10$ drink minimum. The bar is far away from the stage, but if you need to save some money it’ll work out for you. Mainstream Jazz.

Jules, St. Marks Place: French restaurant with live jazz and Latin music. The performers are usually young American players. If you want to be seated at a table, you need to eat. The food is great but a little expensive. Buy a beer and have a hang in the bar. Remember to tip the musicians.

Knitting Factory, 74 Leonard: Knitting Factory is a club with different venues. They present everything from free jazz to rock. Admission is affordable and you can hear from upcoming free jazz players to more recognized players like Dave Liebmann and Wynton Marsalis.

Living Room, 84 Stanton: Small intimate singer-songwriter place, usually with unknown vocal music. But sometimes a place for bands to rehearse like Mark Turner, Larry Grenadier a.o. No admission. 5$ drink minimum.

Louis 649, Corner of Avenue C and 9th Street. No admission. Early sets from 6-9pm Late sets from 9-midnight. All kinds of jazz and a good hang. You don't have to listen, but if you do you might hear Miguel Zenon, Jeff Ballard and more.

Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center 165 W 65th St: Internationally recognized opera house. Always sold out. However, tickets can be bought outside before the show starts. It’s not illegal as long as you pay the price that is printed on the ticket. 25-250$.

Miller Theater, Broadway at 116th St: Miller Theater is part of Columbia University with jazz and classical music.

Nuyorican Poets Cafe, 236 E 3rd St: “Nuyorican” is a word, that consists of two words: New York and Puerto Rico. This dualism between two cultures exists in the music as well. Every Thursday you can “sit in” with the Chris Washburne Syoto Latin Jazz Band.
Smalls, 183 W 10th St: Smalls is closed March 2003. The owner has now opened The Fat Cat.

Smoke, Broadway bt. 105th and 106th St: Cozy jazz club. Either you pay a 15$ drink minimum or you pay admission with a 10$ drink minimum, depending on the “star quality” of the musicians. Jam session every Monday. During weekends players like Benny Goldson, Eric Reed a.o. play at Smoke.
Symphony Space, Broadway and 96th St: Old movie theater with a lot of different cultural arrangements. Usually movies, dance and music.

Tea Lounge, 350 Seventh Avenue at 10th Street. Brooklyn Jazz. No admission.

Village Vanguard, 178 7th Ave: The most famous jazz club in New York. This is where Bill Evans, John Coltrane and almost every famous jazz player did their live recordings. 25$ admission and 10$ drink minimum. Cash only. Nice atmosphere and great sound no matter where you’re seated. This is the most prestigious venue in New York.

Zink Bar, 90 W Houston: Zink Bar is where you find the best Latin music in New York, starting from 11pm. This is where you can find Jeff Tain Watts and other musicians when they are hanging after gigs in Manhattan. A great small spot. 5$ admission.