Great Jazz Clubs In New York City

Live Music in NYC at Village Vanguard, Birdland & Iridium

Jan 19, 2009

From Greenwich Village to Broadway and the Upper West Side, jazz lives in New York City. Here are some legendary NYC jazz clubs & bars for hearing live music every night.

With some planning, jazz enthusiasts wanting to cram as much music as possible into a weekend in New York City can get to two different sets of music a night. Although the clubs vary in ambiance, cost and location, all provide exciting jazz in NYC on a nightly basis. The following three clubs are mainstays of the vibrant jazz nightlife in New York.

The Village Vanguard

This infamous club has been in the same Greenwich Village location since 1935. Patrons walk down narrow stairs into a small irregularly shaped room full of cafe tables in the center with right side seating elevated a by a few steps. With a seating capacity of 123, there are no bad seats. The periodic rumbling of the subway running under the club is a regular accompaniment to the music performed on stage.

The Vanguard is a must-stop place for those jazz lovers who are venturing to New York City for the first time. It has not changed much in its long history other than there is no longer a cloud of cigarette smoke hovering over the room.

Reservations mean you get in the door. Seating is first come and the doors open at 8:00PM for the first set and around 10:30PM for the second. Expect to share a table with others. There is no food served…this very intimate space is for music and drinks only.

Birdland

Originally located on Broadway, Birdland was named in honor of Charlie “Bird” Parker, the headliner for the opening in 1949. According to their website, this well known club moved several times over its history, and has been at its current location in midtown Manhattan since 1996.

The exclusive NYC booking of the Blue Note Records 70th Anniversary Tour is scheduled for April 14-19, 2009 and will include such greats as Ravi Coltrane and Nicholas Payton.

Reservations are made by section with specific tables assigned on a first come basis. Bar seating for music is also available.

Birdland has a full menu featuring Southern Cuisine like Louisiana Crab Cakes, Blackened Catfish, and Creole Seafood Gumbo, and a full bar.

Iridium

Located in the chic Upper West Side of Manhattan near Lincoln Center, this contemporary club has been at its current location since 1994. Seating is on two tiers with good viewing all around. On Monday nights, the legendary guitarist Les Paul plays two sets.

The Iridium has a full menu which includes salmon, duck breast, filet mignon and spinach ravioli, as well as tapas for lighter fare, and a wine list that’s received an award by Wine Spectator.

Jazz Festival in Northeastern United States

Newport Rhode Island, only 3 hours by car or train from NYC, has the Newport Jazz Festival the second weekend in August that has been drawing crowds of jazz lovers for more than 55 years.

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