NYC’s 5 Best Jazz Clubs

NEW YORK

Village Vanguard

villagevanguard.com
212-255-4037
7th Ave South and 11th St
New York, NY 10014

Still the most esteemed basement in all of jazz. Walk down the narrow stairs into a deceptively small room and image what being there was like when John Coltrane made his seminal 1961 recording Live at the Village Vanguard. The club is host to top-shelf straight ahead, swing based toonage while as of late, and the booking style has broadened, welcoming giants from every conceivable representation of improvised music. No food. Artists play Tues-Sun. Sets at 9 and 11 Mondays are reserved for the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. $30-40

Jazz Standard

jazzstandard.net
212-576-2232
116 East 27th St
New York, NY 10016

Great sound, tasty grub and a wildly eclectic line-up of artists make this “destination” venue a mainstay on anybody’s top jazz venue list. The room, which sounds full and warm from every angle books big name acts into the space for at most a three-night run. Many acts that enjoy regular gigs at the 55 Bar, Barbes, Smalls and other smaller clubs take a step up in audience size and play the Jazz Standard. Mondays are dedicated to the Mingus Big Band. Roughly $30

Barbes

barbesbrooklyn.com
718-965-9177
376 9th St
Brooklyn, NY 11215

What’s with all the Balkan brass bands, and how can they possibly rock so incredibly hard? Spend some time at Barbes, located in south Park Slope and find out why the Eastern European influence within the New York jazz orbit has been so massive. Not the least of this newish wave of honking polka punks are the mighty Slavic Soul Party who have played host to a jam-packed Tuesday night throw down. This sometimes really big band (the lineup fluctuates) mixes all your fave Romanian, Moldovan, Bulgarian and Romany sounds along with some tasty American roots stuff like second-line, gospel and jazz. Usually a $10 cover.

55 Bar

55bar.com
212-929-9883
55 Christopher St
New York, NY 10014

A very welcome hipster hang. This tiny West Village club is a destination for guitarists from all over the globe who flock to hear frequent gigs from axe wizards like Mike Stern, Adam Rogers, Jim Campilongo and others. Outer orbit atmospherics can be heard here alongside swing and bop. Expect to enjoy the music with jazz students from the New School, Manhattan School and NYU who take the opportunity to check out their heroes in a cozy intimate environ. Sets are twice nightly, starting at 7:00 with a late set at 10:00. Usually $ 10-20.

Smalls

smallsjazzclub.com
212-252-5091
183 West 10th St
New York, NY 10014

A now legendary basement New York City jazz club. Initially ran from 1994-2003, the room played host to greats like Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, Norah Jones, Kurt Rosenwinkel and Roy Hargrove The club reopened in 2004, and sports a spiffed up 48-seat room, a website that features streaming video of all performances and a rebuilt Steinway grand piano. Smalls — which books everything from traditional jazz to bands that explore the avant-garde — has always been an after-hours club, hosting well-attended jam sessions every night with jazzers playing a final chorus at 4 a.m. $20 Cover.

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