Today, it still resembles a Bogie gin joint, with its classic champagne chiller, vintage decanters, and stainless-steel bar.

So, after the Irish rock club closed its doors for good, Kristina Kossi and Alex Kay moved the Zinc Bar into this underground location. Housed in the very basement where Thelonious Monk played as the house pianist, Billie Holiday performed, and Frank Sinatra attended to watch her, Zinc Bar is a jazz lover’s must-see place. This building is iconic within the jazz world it’s a legendary forties nightclub that’s hosted jazz royalty within its walls. So, if you’re in the mood for some jazz or blues music and are looking for the best jazz clubs in NYC, you’ve come to the right place – let’s get started! The 22 Best Jazz Clubs in NYCįor over sixteen years, the sister-and-brother owners of Zinc Bar patiently watched the Club Cinderella space in NYC’s Greenwich Village.

While the blues scene that was so hot in NYC during the 80s and 90s is mainly gone, there are still a few spots to enjoy this form of musical expression if you know where to look. Today, New York City is home to a plethora of venues in Manhattan and Brooklyn that work to appease the public’s need for jazz performances from up-and-comers and vaunted vets alike. Jazz music as we know it may not have ever existed without the help of cultural bebop-era clubs found on NYC’s 52nd street or continue to remain relevant without the promotion and patronage of hotspots by subsequent generations.

It began and still remains a large part of African American culture, having started among slaves that arrived in America at least 300 years before jazz gained popularity. Though it was not a new form of music, these were the decades when it became popular. As jazz made its way into the spotlight, it became America’s music of the 20s and 30s. Yet, aside from being associated with illegal alcohol and parties, the jazz era was obviously mostly known for the music. Additionally, many would attend speakeasies such as The Cotton Club or The Back Room. It was commonplace for New Yorkers during the 1920s to visit Carnegie Hall for their jazz music fix by attending one of many concerts that would be hosted within the walls of this famed building.

Fat cat jazz club review