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Jazz Clubs in Brooklyn, New York

While Manhattan may be home to the big name jazz clubs like Birdland and The Village Vanguard, Brooklyn is steadily growing as one of the city's best boroughs to see live jazz. Brooklyn's recent status as the more affordable alternative for young artists and musicians has bolstered the local live music scene, especially progressive jazz and alternative instrumental music. The following clubs host some of New York's most eclectic jazz bands and feature a wide range of styles, including European jazz, jazz fusion, Latin jazz and everything in between.

  1. Puppet's Jazz Bar

    • Puppet's is well known throughout Brooklyn for its outstanding jazz brunch on Saturdays and Sundays, with outdoor patio seating during the warmer months. Monday nights are free (no cover charge) and feature an open jam session hosted by highly regarded jazz trumpeter John McNeil. Most performers are largely unknown outside of the local scene, but occasionally Puppet's gets bigger name acts. Daily Happy Hour from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. offers a generous $2 off all drinks. Puppet's health-conscious menu features veggie burgers, tofu dogs, arugula salad and homemade hummus.

      Puppet's Jazz Bar
      481 5th Avenue, Park Slope
      Brooklyn, NY 11215
      (718) 499-2622
      puppetsjazz.com

    Tea Lounge

    • At the other end of Brooklyn's trendy Park Slope neighborhood is this cozy café and experimental live music venue that offers free WiFi. The casual, funky atmosphere at Tea Lounge has made it a meeting ground for the eco-friendly, artsy student crowd. While Tea Lounge does offer a wide selection of tasty organic coffees, teas, sandwiches and baked goods, the focus is invariably the music. The bands that play are all over the map, and you're just as likely to hear some smokin' French Quarter Dixieland as you are electro-funk psychedelia. Performances generally happen from Wednesday through Sunday.

      Tea Lounge
      837 Union Street
      Brooklyn, NY 11215
      (718) 789-2762
      tealoungeny.com

    Barbés

    • A celebrated mainstay of the Brooklyn live music scene, Barbés is owned and operated by two French musicians and longtime residents of Brooklyn's South Slope. For a good taste of what Barbés is all about, head over on Tuesdays to hear Slavic Soul Party, a wildly popular Balkan brass band that's guaranteed to put some dancing in your shoes. Other enjoyable weekly acts include Django Reinhardt protégé Stephane Wrembel and Chicha Libre, another Brooklyn-based band that fuses psychedelic pop, surf music and Latin rhythms with the Andean sounds of Peru. Performances take place in the venue's intimate backroom, usually from 8 p.m. to midnight. Barbés also features on of the best collections of single malt Scotch in Brooklyn, as well as an extensive list of bottled beers.

      Barbés
      376 9th St
      Brooklyn, NY11215
      (347) 422-0248
      barbesbrooklyn.com

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