Composing New York: Music That Speaks to the Soul
Jazz: the art that soothes New York's soul and sparks its spirit. Follow Sophie Brandimarte, a musician herself, as she shows you the city's music through a unique set of eyes.
The first time I went to a live jazz show in the city I was around fourteen years old. It’s somewhat hard to know exactly what age I was because going to these shows has become such a regular part of my life. If I was alive in the 1930s, I would have been the old woman in the back of the club every night, sipping on martinis. I was indeed the proud recipient of the “Born in the Wrong Generation” senior superlative in my high school yearbook, so I guess this checks out. Despite the hazy chronology, I remember that first night vividly. The bright red awning of the historic Village Vanguard jazz club sits on 7th Avenue, overlooking Greenwich Village. The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra (the house band) plays two sets every Monday night. The band is made up of the all-stars of the New York jazz scene; cats who have played with legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, and Herbie Hancock, just to name a few. The stage itself has been blessed by the sounds of Coltrane and Miles Davis. And the best part is, the band is sitting about 2 feet from you. The cramped basement, stuffed with as many tables and chairs as they could fit, has to be in violation of some fire safety codes. The claustrophobia that might kick in is eased by the surrounding green walls adorned with faded photos and instruments from forever ago. Unlike a stadium show or a huge theatre, the music coming from that stage hardly needs to be amplified. They’re playing in a box. The sound is raw and real. You can hear them breathe together, too. This is what makes your first time so special. It’s a form of live music that few have experienced before. Unlike the pop superstars of today who have to be hidden as they make their way to some massive stadium stage, the unassuming old guy you noticed chatting up the bartender will stroll past your seat, get up on stage, and just start rippin’ on the drum kit to start the show.
A few months ago I went to a jazz club called Smoke on the Upper West Side to see one of my favorite saxophone players, Melissa Aldana. Jazz is historically a male-dominated genre, and progress has been slow going. In the jazz program at my university, I am one of only two girls in my entire class. Aldana is a badass female tenor saxophone player from Chile who is currently killing it. Musicians like her quickly become role models for fresh-faced players like myself. It’s quite a special thing to have the opportunity to see our idols play; to be able to go up to them after a show and strike up a real conversation. There is community and care in the jazz that nourishes our city. We all understand the importance of uplifting one another and keeping this music alive. There is soul, intimacy, and history given to us through the music, and it’s no wonder that it thrives in a city that is restless with spirit and art.
I’ve only been seeing live jazz regularly for a few years now, so I am by no means an expert. But I pride myself in going as much as I can, and I often get asked by friends, teachers, parents of friends, friends of friends, for the names of clubs to go to. There are a ton of venues to see jazz in the city; these are just my personal picks:
The Village Vanguard - Need I say more?
Smalls - Tightly packed rows of miscellaneous wooden and fold up chairs in a tiny basement with a relaxed vibe. A one drink minimum, sets that go until 3:00am. Affordable tickets and good chances in the stand-by line. Typically highlights smaller, upcoming artists.
Mezzrow - Smalls’s even tinier sister club down the street. Slightly more upscale, incredibly intimate and romantic. Great spot to take a date.
Smoke Jazz & Supper Club - A chic jazz dining experience on the Upper West Side. Always booking the best lineups in my opinion. Accompanied by an old-timey, full length bar in the lounge area where you can catch performers after the show.
Ornithology - A newly opened spot in Bushwick, Brooklyn. No reservations, just a 10 dollar cover charge at the door; first come first serve. Very homey and informal, dim lighting, a stage floor lined with Persian rugs and fringed tapestries hanging from the ceiling. A vegan-only menu and classic cocktails. A bohemian dream.
The Django - Probably the coolest space on the list. A subterranean jazz club located in the cellar of the Roxy Hotel in Tribeca adorned with warm colors, arched ceilings and exposed brick - modeled after the boîtes clubs in Paris.
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