New York City Jazz

Joe's Pub, 425 Lafayette St., between Astor Pl. and E. 4th St. (www.joespub.com), Part of the Public Theater Triumvirate that also includes Shakespeare in the Park and the Joseph Papp Public Theater, Joe's Pubis a nightclub-style venue that allows you to dine on Italian dishes while being serenaded by a range of performers. Acts are predominantly solo, and of the musical and comedic variety. At the risk of being overly promotional, The Village Voice says that Joe's is the “Best Excuse to Let a Single Venue Dictate Your Taste.” Box office open M 1-6pm, Tu-Sa 1-7:30pm, Su 1-6pm. Tickets can be purchased over the phone 10am-9pm at Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access.
Jazz at Lincoln Center, Frederick P. Rose Hall at Lincoln Center (www.jalc.org), Directed by jazz icon Wynton Marsalis, Jazz at Lincoln Center features the coolest of the cool in jazz performance. Concerts are held in four different concert halls: The Rose Theater, the Allen Room, Dizzie's Club Coca-Cola, and the Irene Diamond Education Center. Jazz at Lincoln Center is also home of the Nesuhi Ertegun Hall of Fame, which pays tribute to the most legendary names in jazz, from Billie Holiday to Charlie Parker. Tickets $31-73. Box office open M-Sa 10am-6pm and until 30min. after the beginning of the last performance. Tickets may also be purchased daily 9am-9pm by calling CenterCharge at Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access.
Birdland, 315 W. 44th St. (www.birdlandjazz.com), Named after jazz legend Charlie Parker (a.k.a. “Bird”) who performed regularly at the original club established in 1949. The new and improved Birdland continues the tradition of presenting top-of-the-heap jazz performers such as Diana Krall, Hank Jones, and James Moody in a club setting. Tickets $20-50. $10 food or drink minimum. Doors open at 5pm, performances at 8:30, 11pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.
Swing 46 Jazz and Supper Club, 349 W. 46th St., between 8th and 9th Ave. (www.swing46.com), Get ready for a night of dining, drinking, and dancing to the sounds of world-class big bands and swing orchestras. You may even get a chance to tap your feet to a Grammy Award-winning artist! Tickets M-F $12, Sa-Su $15. Shows generally 8:30pm or 9:30pm. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access.
The Jazz Ministry at Saint Peter's Lutheran Church, 619 Lexington Ave., at 52nd St. (www.stpeters.org), At Saint Peter's Church, jazz is a spiritual matter. All are welcome to the free or inexpensive performances held at the church. Jazz Vespers are Sundays at 5pm and are free and open to the public. During the summer, things get especially jazzy: Midtown Jazz is Wednesdays at 1pm and Jazz on the Plaza is Thursdays at 12:30pm on Lexington and 53rd St. See website for exact details. Many events free, others with suggested donations of $20, students $10. Jazz Vespers Su 5pm. Times of other events vary. Wheelchair access.
Zinc Bar, 82 W. 3rd St., between Thompson and Sullivan (www.zincbar.com), At Zinc Bar, jazz means more than just “My Funny Valentine.” Styles from every letter of the jazz alphabet, from Afro jazz to bebop to samba to vocal jazz perform here. Enjoy a full bar and listen to three sets of jazz stylings per night. Cover $10. 2 drink min. Early sets $10, 1 drink min. Special weeknights free or reduced cover, 1 drink min. Open daily 6pm-3am. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access.
Iridium, 1650 Broadway, at 51st. St. (www.iridiumjazzclub.com), Feast on Cuenca Mahi-Mahi Ceviche ($12), sip an Iridium Royale ($11), and listen to the sounds of popular jazz artists. Every Monday is a Les Paul Tribute Monday, when the Les Paul Trio and special guests play a concert of Paul's music in honor of that great inventor and musician. Twenty percent of the proceeds from these concerts go to the Les Paul Foundation. Tickets $20-30, student tickets half-price Tu-Th and Su. Call box office to reserve and present ID at the door. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access.