photo by Frank Stewart - Jazz at Lincoln Center

When it comes to jazz, New York City is the center of the jazz universe. In fact there is so much jazz in New York City, it is difficult to experience it all in one visit. To make it a little easier for you the next time you're in the Big Apple, here are a few places where I have personally enjoyed live world class jazz.

Midtown

The jazz epicenter in New York City begins at Jazz At Lincoln Center's "House of Swing," the home of Dizzy's Club Coca Cola, The Allen Room, Frederick P. Rose Hall and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. The facility is located in the Time Warner Building at Columbus Circle, 60th and Broadway, and in addition to great music 7 nights a week, you can enjoy world class shopping, restaurants, the Mandarin Oriental, and there's even a fitness center in the building.

After you've experienced all the great jazz at Jazz At Lincoln Center, head down to Iridium Jazz Club at 1650 Broadway between 51st and 52nd Streets, near the site of original "Birdland" that is sadly now a "Gentleman's Club." Birdland lives on though, and a quick taxi ride west will take you to the new Birdland Jazz Club at 315 West 44th Street.

Downtown

Further downtown is one of my favorites, the Jazz Standard at 116 East 27th, a great place to hear live jazz and enjoy some pretty good barbecue as well. Greenwich Village is home to several of New York's most famous jazz clubs including the Blue Note at 131 W. 3rd Street, Smalls Jazz Club at 183 West 10th Street, and the most famous of them all, the Village Vanguard at 178 7th Avenue South, which has been at the same location since 1935.

Upper West Side

The jazz scene in New York City isn't limited to mid-town or lower manhattan, there is an uptown scene as well, and another one of my favorites is the intimate Smoke Jazz & Supper Club Lounge at 2751 Broadway, a tiny little club with great music, great food and Jazz Brunch on Sunday's.

Harlem

Further uptown across 110th Street, (the official boundary of Harlem USA) jazz is a live and well, and you can find a number of places, including the Minton's Playhouse, the "birthplace of be-bop" at 206 W. 118th St, the legendary Lenox Lounge at 288 Malcolm X Boulevard with it's Zebra Room as seen in the Samuel L. Jackson version of the movie "Shaft. A few more choices for a real uptown underground jazz experience are the New Amsterdam Musical Association at 107 West 130th Street, an organization that dates back 100 years, and they have a weekly jam session on Monday nights. The "Mayor of Harlem" Bill Saxton keeps jazz alive at "Bill's Place', 148 W. 133rd, and up near Sugar Hill, check out St. Nick's Pub a Harlem institution at 773 Saint Nicholas Avenue near 149th Street has live jazz 7 nights a week. Over in Spanish Harlem check out Creole at 2167 3rd Avenue near 118th Street, and The National Jazz Museum in Harlem at 104 East 126th Street, Suite 2C is also worth visiting, for a list of events, visit their website at www.jazzmuseuminharlem.org


This by no means is the complete list, for a guide to the New York jazz scene which is maintained and updated often, I suggest visiting www.bigapplejazz.com. You can also find a list of jazz clubs around the world at www.jazz-clubs-worldwide.com