The 7th Ave. home in the '80s and early '90s of Gil Evans' last orchestra, David Murray's octets, Abdullah Ibrahim's bands, Lester Bowie's Brass Fantasy and other avant-gutsy acts closed last night (Oct. 24) without notice or fanfare. Sweet Rhythm nee Sweet Basil was one of the coolest spots to listen, drink and hang out in Greenwich Village, a wood-paneled room with fine sound, sightlines, bookings and bartender, but it never recovered from what its most recent owner described as a post-9/11 decline in street traffic, competition from nearby clubs offering lesser music at no cover charge, and disinterest among the young in jazz.
James Browne, who bought the club and building which houses it in April 2001, is a thorough music professional, a dj formerly on WBGO and currently on Sirius Satellite radio with at least 30 years of experience in NYC scenes, who tried to downplay his operation's well-established identification with jazz alone but never truly diverged from it 'cause he loves blues, Afro-Caribbean sounds, soulful singers -- all music with jazz connotations. Taking over Sweet Basil from a Japanese holding company which had bought a franchise established by the married couple Mel and Phyllis Litoff and booker Horst Leipolt, Browne forged connections with the New School Jazz program, giving student bands professional experience, however the kids didn't return the favor by becoming regular attendees.
Situated in a stretch of Manhattan that includes the Village Vanguard, 55 Bar, Small's, Fat Cat, Arthur's Tavern and several other bars and restaurants offering music, Basil had been distinguished by the company it presented, which included Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, ensembles led by Art Farmer, Ron Carter, Regina Carter, Olu Dara, Don Pullen, Oliver Lake, Cecil Taylor and many others. Though Browne vowed to broaden the field, and his cross-genre concept has been successful for other downtown music clubs including City Winery and S.O.B.'s, somehow Sweet Rhythm didn't catch on.
James Browne, who bought the club and building which houses it in April 2001, is a thorough music professional, a dj formerly on WBGO and currently on Sirius Satellite radio with at least 30 years of experience in NYC scenes, who tried to downplay his operation's well-established identification with jazz alone but never truly diverged from it 'cause he loves blues, Afro-Caribbean sounds, soulful singers -- all music with jazz connotations. Taking over Sweet Basil from a Japanese holding company which had bought a franchise established by the married couple Mel and Phyllis Litoff and booker Horst Leipolt, Browne forged connections with the New School Jazz program, giving student bands professional experience, however the kids didn't return the favor by becoming regular attendees.
Situated in a stretch of Manhattan that includes the Village Vanguard, 55 Bar, Small's, Fat Cat, Arthur's Tavern and several other bars and restaurants offering music, Basil had been distinguished by the company it presented, which included Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, ensembles led by Art Farmer, Ron Carter, Regina Carter, Olu Dara, Don Pullen, Oliver Lake, Cecil Taylor and many others. Though Browne vowed to broaden the field, and his cross-genre concept has been successful for other downtown music clubs including City Winery and S.O.B.'s, somehow Sweet Rhythm didn't catch on.
For more information contact Jazz Beyond Jazz by Howard Mandel.
