Dec 072009
My husband and I will be in NYC during the Thanksgiving weekend and would like to go to cool jazz clubs in the city. Besides the famous Blue Note, what other places could we go? Also, we enjoy salsa dancing and would like to go to a groovy or elegant salsa club.
Personally I like the Jazz Standard on 27th between 5th and 6th Avenues in Chelsea. You can hear regional and national acts there in a somewhat more relaxed atmosphere than the Blue Note not to mention the killer Barbecue they serve there from the restaurant upstairs.
Also Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola and the Allen Room, both at Jazz at Lincoln Center in the Time Warner Building at Columbus Circle is great but expensive. It’s upstairs in the building and you get a nice view overlooking Central Park through a huge ceiling-to-floor window (skip it if you have vertigo!).
There is also Sweet Rhythm, an intimate club in the West Village on 7th Avenue South. I’ve gone there a number of times to see several acts.
Iridium is in the Theatre District and is most famous for Les Paul’s Monday Night Residency there. Book in advance if you go…it fills quickly. I’m personally not fond of the venue because it’s underground and they often over-sell the room resulting in their customers sitting right up under each other. But hey, it’s Les Paul and his is always a good show. It’s about 60 dollars per person not including food and drink (food is not required but there is a two drink minimum).
Also check out Joe’s Pub. They don’t have jazz every day so you’ll have to check the schedule, but it’s a great room (got to sing there myself a few times).
S.O.B. (Sounds of Brazil) has a Salsa night on Fridays. I haven’t been so I can’t say how it is, but I’ve been to the club and it’s a nice venue with a good sized bar and knowledgeable bartenders.
My friend, the link below will be very helpful.
Good luck
Native New Yorker