55 Bar
(212) 929-9883
55 Christopher St.
(Seventh Ave. So. / Waverly Place)
Leni and Mike Stern hold court, also Sweet Georgia Brown and Wayne Krantz. $3 cover and 2 drink min. First Set around 10:00 P.M.

Arthur's Tavern
(212) 675-6879
57 Grove Street
(NW corner of Grove and 7th Ave. So.)
Since 1937. Longest continually run jazz club in NYC. No cover charge. Jazz: 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Dixieland jazz: 8 p.m. - 11 p.m. Sunday and Monday. Blues and R&B from 9 p.m. - 3 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 11 p.m. - 3 a.m. Sunday and Monday. The Creole Cooking Jazz Band, Grove Street Stompers and Sweet Georgia Brown have been playing here weekly forever, and for good reason: they rock the house.

Birdland
(212) 581-3080
315 W. 44th St.
(8th / 9th Aves.)
All show times: 9:00 and 11:00 P.M. Music charge varies, $20-35. There is a $10 food/drink minimum per person at the tables. At the bar, the music charge includes one drink. Sundays belong to Chico O'Farrill’s Afro-Cuban Jazz Big Band, Mondays have been reserved for the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra featuring Lew Tabackin, and Wednesdays typically go to The Famous Duke Ellington Orchestra directed by Paul Mercer Ellington with early sets at 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. going to David Ostwald's Louis Armstrong Centennial Band. From Thursday - Saturday expect the best in local and internationally touring artists. All will enjoy the excellent sight lines to the stage.

Blue Note
(212) 475-8592
131 W. Third St.
(6th Ave./ MacDougal Street)
Opened in 1981, the Blue Note is arguably the world's most popular jazz club. World renown talent take the stage for six day runs, with Mondays usually reserved for excellent local talent. Two sets are 9:00 and 11:30. Prices are $35 for table reservations + minimum, or $25 cover at the bar. There is $5.00 cover charge for the Friday and Saturday late night jam sessions. Sunday brunch served Noon - 4 PM. Show times at 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM.

The Cajun
(212) 691-6174
129 Eighth Ave.
(16th / 17th Streets)
Dixieland and swing nightly 8 - 11 as backdrop to a New Orleans dining experience. Sunday brunches and Wednesday lunches are also accompanied by live music.

Caviarteria
(212) 925-5515
310 W. Broadway
(at the SoHo Grand Hotel, Grand St.)
Sets: Wed. 8:00 - 11:00. Thurs. and Sat. 9:00 - 12:00. This cozy and hip club features vocalists who perform standards to vocalese. Miles Griffith is a regular. No cover or minimum. The smoked salmon and caviar dishes are definitely worth a try.

Cleopatra’s Needle
(212) 769-6969
2485 Broadway
(92nd / 93rd)
Music from 9 pm - 4 am. No cover. $10. min. per set. Eclectic menu, big screen sports and weekly showcases, featuring Eric Lewis Trio on Mondays. And nightly open jams from 2 am - 4 am. Jazz vocalists open mic every Sunday 1 to 5 pm.

Detour
(212) 533-6212
349 E. 13th St.
(1st / 2nd Aves.)
Sun. - Thurs.: Music starts at 9:00. Fri. - Sat: Music starts at 9:30. No cover and no minimum. Detour is the place to go in the East Village to catch Matt Wilson and John Funkhouser for free on their way up. They are among the less known talent gigging at this inconspicuous diamond in the rough. Talk loudly or listen closely, all are welcome.

Fez under Time Cafe
(212) 533-2680
380 Lafayette St.
(at Great Jones Street)
Every Thursday Night: Mingus Big Band. Doors Open at 8:30 & 11 pm with sets at 9:30 & 11:30. Cover: $18. Late show is $10 for students with valid ID. Mingus Big Band features the bad boys of New York's big band players.

The Garage
(212) 645-0600
99 7th Ave. So
(Just South of W 4th St.)
An open and spacious restaurant with a gregarious liquor bar / oyster bar. Aspiring jazz groups nightly, usually fronted by a vocalist. No cover. Plenty of outdoor seating in good weather.

Internet Cafe
(212) 614-0747
82 E 3rd St.
(1st / 2nd Aves.)
Set times: Friday & Saturday night sets are at 10 & 11:30 pm; all other nights sets are at 9:30 & 11 pm. The cover remains $5, with no minimum. The most unpretentious and informal straight ahead jazz cafe perhaps in the world.

Iridium
(212) 582-2121
44 W. 63d St.
(Broadway / Columbus)
Top internationally known artists play six day runs, and Les Paul Trio every Monday. Sets: Mon. - Thurs. 8:45 and 10:45. Fri. & Sat 3rd Set at Midnight. Minimum cover charge: $20.00. $10.00 Drink Min.

Jazz Standard
(212) 576-2232
116 E 23rd St.
(Park / Lexington)
A finely appointed basement club with 130 seats featuring straight ahead jazz artists. Sets at 8:00 and 10:00 p.m. weekdays; 8:00, 10:30 and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays; and 7:00 and 9:00 p.m. on Sundays. COVER: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, & Sunday $18 + $10 min. Student discount: half price cover on the second set, if not sold out. Friday and Saturday $25 + $10 min. Student discount: half price cover on the midnight set, if not sold out. A street level lounge and restaurant, 27 Standard, also features jazz at with no cover charge, nightly.

Jules
(212) 477-5560
65 St. Marks Pl. / (8th St.)
(1st / 2nd Aves.)
Jazz nightly starting at 9:00 on weekdays and 11:00 on weekends. Jean Michel Pilc and other noteworthy artists perform here. No cover. A pleasant and casual French bistro with some outdoor seating.

K’av’eh’az
(212) 343-0612
123 Mercer St.
(Prince / Spring Sts.)
$8 minimum, food or drink. Jazz Wed. through Sat.

Knickerbocker Saloon
(212) 228-8490
33 University Place (at 9th St.)
Opened in 1978. $5.00 minimum on food or drink. Jazz music presented Wed. through Sat.

Knitting Factory
(212) 219-3006
74 Leonard St.
(Broadway / Church St.)
This is the granddaddy long legs of "downtown jazz" venues -- featuring a genre bending blend of envelope pushing and utterly deserving acts on several intimate stages throughout the deceptively vast complex. There are too many shows to mention so just go to their web site calendar or call them directly to attain schedule and ticket information.

The Lenox Lounge
(212) 722-9566
288 Lenox Ave.
(web site under construction)
(124th -125th St.)
Recently renovated to its 1930's art deco splendor. Cover charge and minimum. The Zebra Room in back is one of the finest looking jazz spaces in town. Live jazz booked on weekends. Monday night jam session.

Metronome: Jazz Lounge
(212) 505-7400
915 Broadway
(Corner of 21st St.)
Music showcased: Wed. to Sat. 7:00 - 11:00. No cover — Enjoy a swanky downtown setting and menu while you enjoy a good mix of the city's talented performers. Find out what night Danny Mixon is playing before booking your reservations.

Red Blazer
(212) 947-8940
32 W 37th St.
(5th / 6th)
M-Th four sets starting at 7 pm. Fri-Sat 9 pm - 12:30. Mondays they have trios, and the bands get larger through Saturday. The focus is swing music for your dancing pleasure, and vocalists accompany each night. $16 covers three courses, plus coffee or tea.

San Martin Restaurant
(212) 832-0888
143 East 49th St.
Hosts Les Lieber's "Jazz At Noon" in it's 36th year of lunch time jazz sessions with the world's most famous artists. Every Friday at Noon, $6 cover $12 minimum for lunch or drinks.

Showmans
(212) 864-8941
375 West 125th Street
(East of Morningside Ave., next door to the down-home, soul food mecca: M & G Diner)
M - Th Sets: 8:30 10, 11:30. Friday and Saturday Sets: 10:30 12:30 2:30. Two drink minimum per set. Tap dancing on Thursdays. A beautiful blending of the genteel with the earthy soul histories of Harlem can be found in this well appointed jazz showcase, which has been home to the greats (e.g. Sara Vaughan, Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington, Eartha Kitt) since 1942. (In its current location since August of 1998). A Hammond B-3 organ graces the stage, and is put to good use by Danny Mixon -- check the schedule. Soul food appetizers are always available for the asking.

Smalls
(212) 929-7565
183 W. 10th St.
(West of 7th Ave. South)
Open: 10 pm - 8 am. Smalls has at least 3 bands nightly. 10 hrs. of jazz on weekdays, 12 hrs of jazz on friday, saturday and sunday. Cover just $10. Stay as long as you like. Self serve free non-alcoholic beverages at the bar or bring your own. Early bird free show on Saturdays at 7:30. (The hours and location are changing shortly, so call them first. And expect a line, this club is hot). Keep an eye out for regular, Myron Walden.

Smoke
(212) 864-6662
2751 Broadway
(105th / 106th)
Picking up where Augie's (its forerunner) left off, Smoke has developed into a hip and casually swank jazz joint with the chops and personalities to recommend it to serious fans of NY jazz. Sets at 9, 11, 12:30. Bar closes at 4:00. $10 drink tickets serve as the cover charge. A Monday night jam session encourages vocalists to step up.

St. Nick’s Pub
(212) 283-9728
773 St. Nicholas Blvd.
(Corner of 149th St.)
Best Monday night jam session in the city. The scene gets kicking at midnight. There is a tourist scene prior to the Monday jam with Patience Higgins and the Sugar Hill Jazz Quartet driving the festivities beginning at 9:30. For the last half dozen years, Friday nights have belonged to the Bill Saxton Trio...highly recommended! Thursday features the club's charming singing bartender, Arlene Talley. Guest artists frequently stop by to sit in. Among them: James Carter, Olu Dara, Savion Glover, Reggie Workman, Laurel Watson, Etta Jones, even Stevie and Aisha Wonder.

Sweet Basil
(212) 242-1785
88 7th Ave. South
(Bleecker/Grove Sts.)
Since 1975. A great place to see big name artists and little known gems who play for 6 night runs here. Sets at 9:00 and 11:00 pm, seven nights a week. Friday and Saturday, there is an additional late set at 12:30 am. Admission at tables and Bar varies according to performer and night, about $17.50 - $20.00 and a $10 minimum at tables per set. First round on the house if you sit at the bar. Weekly events: Weekend brunches from 2 pm - 5 pm. Saturday Brunch: Ilhan Ersahin. Sunday Brunch: Chuck Folds and Friends, $10 min. for brunches, no cover. Every Monday Night: The Spirit of Life Ensemble. American bistro menu.

Swing 46
(212) 262-9554
349 W. 46th Street
(8th / 9th Aves.)
Swing dance & supper club. Featuring Live Bands - Swing & Jump Blues 7 Nights a week. Each night there is a dance lesson at 9:15 pm followed by a live swing band. Sunday - Wednesday the ticket price is $7. Thursday - Saturday it's $12. Suggested dress code - no jeans or sneakers and Jackets are not required. Sundays have featured early evening tap classes: Legendary hoofer, Buster Brown's "Crazy Tap Jam," 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

Tonic
(212) 358-7501
107 Norfolk St.
(Delancey / Rivington Sts.)
Sets vary beginning either 8:00 or 10:00 for $10. A midnight show might cost $5. Happily, no pretensions past those usually associated with the avant-garde. Down below there can be found a dj spinning in the Subtonic Lounge Thurs.- Sats. Sunday brunch features the klezmer band of the week. This is the one club to visit if you want to mix an earthy community vibe with a good night of esoteric sounds.

Torch
(212) 228-5151
137 Ludlow St.
(Stanton / Rivington Sts.)
Come for dinner or drinks. No cover. Stylish dress is encouraged by this trendy hideaway with a penchant for charismatic vocalists who hope to put you in mind of a time long ago and far away. Open Sun - Thurs. from 6:00 P.M. - 2:00 A.M.; and on the weekend till 4:00 A.M. Chet Bakerish, Todd Londigan will impress you with his tap shoes, when he's not on tour with The Flying Neutrinos.

Village Vanguard
(212) 255-4037
178 Seventh Ave.
(At 11th St. and Max Gordon Corner)
Sets: Sunday - Thursday 9:30 and 11:30, Friday and Saturday 9:30, 11:30, and 1:30. Monday nights, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, established by Thad Jones and Mel Lewis over 33 years ago continues their big band tradition. Sunday - Thursday: $25.00 at the door (includes $15.00 admission plus a $10.00 drink minimum). On Friday and Saturday: $30.00 at the door (includes $20.00 admission plus a $10.00 drink minimum). The Vanguard opened its doors in 1935 and is the archetypal Greenwich Village jazz club which has the right vibes and an excellent booking policy. Catch pianist Tommy Flanagan here for a perfect jazz night out.

Zinc Bar
(212) 477-8337
90 W. Houston St.
(Thompson St../ LaGuardia Pl)
Open 7 days 6 P.M. - 3:30 A.M. on weeknights, and till 4 A.M. on weekends. $5 cover and a one drink min. Weekly theme nights dominate the schedule. Monday showcases the guitar trio of Ron Affif at 8:00 and 9:00. Featured bands play 3 sets Mon. -Thurs. at 10:30, 12, and 2:00. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are jazz nights, while Thursdays are Latin, Fridays are African and Saturdays are Brazilian Bossa Nova. Fri. and Sat. the first set starts at 11. Sundays bring poetry readings at 6:30. And Brazilian Samba groups into the night. A lounge exists in back for your smoky comfort.