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About


 Our 500+ Excellent reviews on TripAdvisor make us their #1 Nightlife Experience in New York City.

Experience our most popular immersive Harlem Jazz Tours to see how much fun is waiting for you off-the-beaten-path.

Swinging jazz and vocalists nightly.  Blues is featured on Mondays’ and Hammond B3 organ on Sundays’ Harlem Juke Joint Tour!

Big Apple Jazz Tours is celebrating 25 fantastic years in business – emerging from the pandemic with renewed energy and excitement. Our jazz guides, Gordon and Amanda know all the hidden clubs and speakeasies where Harlem’s singers, musicians and fans gather nightly to let the good times roll.

We can’t wait to immerse you in that scene on one of our intimate public or private jazz tours to Harlem or Greenwich Village!  All ages welcome: 21+ for Fridays and Saturdays is recommended.

Peace,

Gordon Polatnick
Top Cat, Big Apple Jazz Tours

Our Story


We started in 1997 as a guide service specializing in the music scenes of New York City. We are the recognized leader in introducing visitors, businesses, and student groups to the world capital of jazz. From Harlem’s history and hidden jazz haunts to the nation’s greatest clubs in the Village and Midtown Manhattan – We not only show you where it’s at, we introduce you to all the cats!

“This tour, hosted by New York jazz expert Gordon Polatnick, is the real deal for jazz buffs.”

~ Brian Silverman Frommer’s NYC & NYC For Dummies.

Big Apple Jazz Tours welcomes individual jazz fans as well as corporate and school groups wishing to get off-the-beaten-path and down into the alleyways and basements where live jazz still thrives in hidden nightclubs from Harlem to Greenwich Village. Our tours of New York City jazz always include thrilling musicians and fascinating sightseeing.

Since we are a well-rounded step-on guide service with friendly and knowledgeable guides covering all subjects and in all languages, we encourage you to call us with any tour related questions. We will set up a phone appointment to discuss your needs and produce a unique itinerary, then match you with the perfect guide to suit your interests, schedule, budget, and style.

Meet Your Guides


 

Gordon
Amanda gardenia