Insider’s Guide to Harlem’s Jazz Club Scene -2025

December 16, 2024

NAMA – New Amsterdam Musical Association – photo by Gordon Polatnick Jazz musicians

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Insider’s Guide to Harlem Jazz

by Gordon Polatnick

The longest standing jazz venues in Harlem are at the opposite ends of the neighborhood and two right in the middle. Parlor Entertainment is up at 160th Street and Minton’s Playhouse is down at 118th Street. The American Legion Post and New Amsterdam Musical Association are both in brownstones in the center of Central Harlem.

Marjorie Eliot has been hosting Parlor Entertainment jazz concerts in her cozy apartment for the past 33 years every single Sunday. Her dedication is amazing and even astounding, as she just initiated extra shows every Friday and Saturday afternoon as well.

Minton’s Playhouse had closed in the 70’s and was resurrected in 2006 for the first but not the last time. Now under its 4th administration since then, Minton’s is back and swinging several nights a week.

But if you want to hear live music in 100-year-old brownstones then look no further than the Post and NAMA. Each drawing a neighborhood crowd who have depended on the great talent and great value to the jazz scene for decades.

Another below the radar club that serves Central Harlem for 20 years now is 449 LA SCAT, which is in an art gallery around the corner from Bill’s Place.

There are two related clubs that offer a lot of jazz from newcomers and neighborhood standard-bearers to world-class talent: Shrine and Silvana.

Combined or individually, they offer the most live music of all uptown clubs with several shows nightly – spanning all genres. Check their listings for nightly offerings.

Weekend favorites that have roots going back to the historic St. Nick’s Pub days are Berta Indeed Productions’ Friday night sets at Hamilton’s Bar and Kitchen; and Bill’s Place presenting two sets a night every Friday and Saturday.

Further uptown by the legendary sites of the Polo Grounds and Rucker Park sit two venues that you should definitely know about: Patrick’s Place and Lucille’s with opportunities to jam with the bands in their later sets. Patrick’s also has ties to St. Nick’s Pub with saxophonist, Patience Higgins leading the session every Friday.

Keep an eye out for offerings from JazzMobile, Red Rooster, PB Brasserie, Harlem Late Night Jazz, Cotton Club, Apollo, Victoria Lounge, Row House, CCNY, Harlem Tavern, and the Richard Rodgers Amphitheater and a few others I probably left off accidentally.

Of the dozen or so places to hear live jazz in Harlem these days none book jazz 7 days week, so you’re advised to get in touch with the venues to make sure it’s a jazz night.

Of course, you could always just take a Private Jazz Tour with Gordon or Amanda and LET BIG APPLE JAZZ SHOW YOU WHERE ITS AT, and introduce you to all the cats!

HAPPY AND HEALTHY HOLIDAYS AND A THRILLING NEW YEAR, MY FRIENDS

Peace,

Gordon Polatnick
Big Apple Jazz Tours