[Dixielandjazz] Louis Cafe

[Rob McCallum]

Hi all,

E. 9th at Avenue B is where Charlie Parker lived, though he was between B 
and A.  Maybe that's the modern block and between B and C is where all the 
traditionalists hang out : )  That used to be a bit of a dicey area -- 
muggings and drugs (though hip with a lot of musicians and artists of all 
styles living there--what the Village had been years before), though I hear 
the Yuppies have moved in and more upscale businesses are opening.  Beat 
poet Allen Ginsberg was living in that neighborhood when he passed away 
(14th and Avenue A).

BTW-- As Steve posted, property values in Manhattan have become so 
ridiculous that even successful music clubs can no longer afford it.  
Smalls, an all-night basement club that closed a few months back, was driven 
out--and they were lined up out the door most every night.  They were so 
popular that the owner opened up another jazz place in the backroom of a 
pool hall around the corner just to handle the overflow on the weekends.  
Now, just that back room is still open (called the Fat Cat).

Many artists and musicians are moving to Brooklyn, especially the 
Williamsburg area along Bedford Ave. (nicknamed Avenue E because it's only 
one subway stop out of Manhattan--I think it's on the L line).  The jazz 
scene hasn't moved though--I think because so many of the jazz patrons are 
tourists.  They did try and open up a jazz club in Williamsburg, but the 
live music didn't last long (someone's son, I think it was Stan Getz's son, 
was the one that started that).

All the best,
Rob McCallum



>-----
>Louis; 649 E. 9th St.   (Ave B / Ave C) (212) 673-1190
>An East Village cafe/wine bar paying homage to Armstrong with live jazz 
>solo
>piano on Tuesdays, piano trios featured every Wednesday and Thursday, and a
>Trombone/bass duo on Sundays. Performances are 9 -11:30.  Pre-recorded jazz
>playing all other times. 
>-----