[Dixielandjazz] Jazz in NYC

[Stephen G Barbone]

Dixieland in NYC will NEVER be like it was. When I was a teenager,  
there were numerous joints presenting Dixieland 6 nights a week. Those  
I remember vividly were Nick's, Condon's, Ryan's, Cinderella Club,  
Arthur's. Then there were numerous joints that presented Dixieland on  
weekends such as;  Melody Lounge, Childs Paramount, Stuyvasent Casino,  
Central Plaza, Hotel Carelton. Then there was the Loft Scene with  
various jam sessions, some free, some for a listening fee. To say  
nothing of the various "modern jazz" joints. It is obvious that will  
not occur again because of a variety of reasons.

The entire "live" music scene for journeymen professional musicians in  
the USA is a struggle, not just Dixieland. The regular 6 night  
residency gigs are simply not there because there is a much diminished  
audience across the board for live music.

However, Jazz is certainly not dead. At least in NYC. It is just very  
different from the OKOM scene we grew up with. As Bill Haesler said,  
he could find no OKOM in NYC in September 1975. That has changed. Out  
of the 7 venues I mentioned in NYC, 3 are recent. Sophia's 2 nights a  
week within the last year, emerging after Vince Giordano thought his  
band was about to fade away. It started two years ago as a once a  
month gig and because of its success, is now 2 nights a week,  
Feinstein's is new. OKOM starting in May, and their late night jazz  
series (Thursdays) started a few months ago. The Bruno Walter  
Auditorium series with the Gotham Jazzmen is a new venue within the  
last year, although they had been playing at the 53rd Street Library  
for many years. Even Kellso at the Ear Inn  is relatively new.

But perhaps the real story about jazz in NYC is in the monthly  
magazine "Jazz Inside". Folks can download it FREE and the jazz event  
listings, and list of venues that advertise jazz is astonishingly  
large. To see what I mean, go to:

http://jazzinsidemagazine.com/publications/guide/april-2011

Wait for it to download as it is 64 pages.

Bottom line is that while OKOM will never be what is once was, it is  
indeed gaining audience and visibility in certain parts of the USA at  
the night club level. While losing audience at the OKOM Festival level.

Cheers,