About Jazz: New York - March 2005

The NYC jazz landscape of clubs and venues continues to be in a state of flux. Though Fat Cat closes its doors, club proprietor Mitch Borden moves the music just around the corner to the famed club he ran for nearly a decade (and relocated from in 2003): Small's. We welcome back this institution and its famed after-hours/early morning sessions! Brooklyn's Zebulon (see Club Profile, pg. 6) and Smith's Bar (last month’s Club Profile) each are quickly developing substantial reputations among listeners and musicians alike; both not only feature top-notch jazz but also at more than reasonable prices. A few doors up from Smith's, Charley-O's is sure to also become a new hang. The bad news is Tonic’s recent call-out for help to raise funds (go to www.tonicnyc.com to lend your support in words and in currency). Last month, various benefit shows helped management begin to meet their rising rent and operational costs. Similarly, CB's (and, consequently, its every Sunday - and recently announced Wednesday - “Lounge" jazz series) is dealing with financial straits and increased monthly rent. So, please go out and support live music - for yourself, for the musicians, for the clubs and, ultimately, for the health and future of the music.

March is “Women's History Month", so be sure to also show your respect for what women contribute to this music. Among the many listed in our Event Calendar (pg. 32-36) are Ernestine Anderson, Sheryl Bailey, Jay Clayton, Carla Cook, Connie Crothers, Claire Daly, Lea Delaria, Dominique Eade, Kali Z. Fasteau, Ayelet Rose Gottlieb, Bertha Hope, Susie Ibarra, Ingrid Jensen, Tanya Kalmanovitch, The Lascivious Biddies, Deborah Latz, Okkyung Lee, Abbey Lincoln, Ayana Lowe, Virginia Mayhew, Kate McGarry, Allison Miller, Gretchen Parlato, Madeleine Peyroux, Roberta Piket, Leslie Pintchik, Lenore Raphael, Carline Ray, Dianne Reeves, Matana Roberts, Deidre Rodman, Jenny Scheinman, Maria Schneider, Barbara Sfraga, Kendra Shank, Judi Silvano, Tessa Souter, Luciana Souza, Francesca Tanksley, Kim Thompson, Roseanna Vitro, Deanna Witkowski, Andrea Wolper, Min Xiao-Fen and many others! There’s the “Women's Jazz Festival" every Monday in March at the Schomburg Center; “Lady Got Chops" Festival weekends at the Jazz Spot; “Planet XX" weekends at BAMCafé and “Italian Women in Jazz" at Symphony Space (Mar. 22nd), part of the many festivities associated with Italian jazz featured in the city this month (Special Feature, pg. 29).

See you at the shows...
Laurence Donohue-Greene & Andrey Henkin