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Historic Jazz & Blues Clubs in New York

From the Harlem Renaissance to the explosion of hip-hop in the late '80s, New York has been an important center for the development of African-American music for decades. The city is still home to dozens of historic jazz and blues clubs where the likes of Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington and Fats Waller all paid their dues. Many of these institutions have retained the same cool, unadulterated atmosphere that made them famous during the golden age of jazz and blues. For musicians and music fans alike, these clubs are historical landmarks that are well worth a visit.

  1. The Village Vanguard

    • Step one foot into this classic underground jazz bar and you’ll see why it’s one of the most reputable music venues in the city. Nearly every major figure in jazz has graced the Vanguard stage since its inception in 1935. Mounted on the walls of this intimate space are black-and-white photos of jazz legends come and gone, and don’t be surprised if you catch one of them alive and playing up on the bandstand on any given night. Many quintessential live jazz albums were recorded here, like Bill Evans’ enduring classic “Sunday at The Village Vanguard” and John Coltrane’s experimental Vanguard recordings from the late '60s. As of 2010, guests should expect to pay around $35 per set with a $10 drink minimum. Village Vanguard is a non-smoking establishment.

      The Village Vanguard
      178 7th Ave.
      New York, NY 10014
      (212) 255-4037
      villagevanguard.com

    Lenox Lounge

    • One of Harlem’s many historic jazz and blues venues, Lenox Lounge has been keeping the Harlem Renaissance spirit alive since the late 1930s. The slick, art-deco backroom, complete with zebra print interior, functions as the perfect performance space at this eccentric speakeasy-style venue. Lenox Lounge hosts a wide range of classic jazz trios, quartets and vocalists. Thursday night is reserved for blues and R&B music that’s not to be missed. Lenox Lounge also serves a nice selection of tasty soul food like stuffed catfish, barbecue baby-back ribs and homemade cornbread. Expect to pay no more than $15 at the door, though drinks tend to be on the expensive side.

      Lenox Lounge
      288 Malcolm X Blvd.
      New York, NY 10027
      (212) 427-0253
      lenoxlounge.com

    Cotton Club

    • The Cotton Club is perhaps the single most important establishment for the history and preservation of black music in New York. Legendary jazz and blues musicians like Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Lena Horne and Ethel Waters played here regularly at a time when the place was run by unruly gangsters. For many years the Cotton Club was rigidly segregated, with black performers playing for whites-only audiences, though that all changed during the civil rights movement. Today the Cotton Club is still going strong and continues to celebrate its important place in African-American heritage. You can hear solid jazz and blues bands throughout the week as you enjoy traditional soul food. Don’t miss the Cotton Club’s famous Sunday Gospel Brunch.

      Cotton Club
      666 W. 125 St.
      New York, NY 10027
      (212) 663-7980
      cottonclub-newyork.com

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