Gothamist: No Room for Jazz in Harlem?

midnightbreakfast

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 12:59:32 -0500

What will be the new New York in ten years when there's nothing left here? I'd make clear exactly what I mean by 'nothing left here' but you've heard a million times already (Best Buy, blah, blah, blah...). Chicago? Nope. Don't want to freeze my ___ off. San Francisco? Too expensive, too ... California. Berlin? Well, maybe. Hats off to you if you can get a visa. Philly? Hellll no. What do you guys think?

Barry Popik

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 04:13:44 -0500

So sad. I knew "Big Apple Jazz" (Palotnick's website by that name is still online). By the way, the historic "Big Apple" night club plaque at 135th Street and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevard was removed in 2006 to make way for a Popeye's fast food restaurant. No one tried to save the plaque that had been there since 1934--as historic in its own way as the Apollo.

Splicer

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 16:56:31 -0500

Whether they're fans of tuneless and mechanical Hip Hop or non-guitar playing Rock (remember, only strumming is allowed), both sets would benefit by hearing "A Love Supreme" blasting from a stereo.

Spiritof76

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 13:48:32 -0500

Don't blame the hoity-toity set. They wouldn't have gone to a jazz club anyway. More blame falls on the sad state of contemporary urban "music," notably the younger generations being exclusively fascinated with hip hop and rap. You just can't blast jazz from the 1000-watt stereo in your car, you know. It's not the same without the omnipresent bass track.

Splicer

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 12:32:00 -0500

Who does this surprise? Is there room for Jazz in NYC anymore? I don't mean the high cover charge safe music that BMW and Hummer crowd like. I mean balls-to-the-wall, knock your socks off blowing from people I've never heard of. That's what Jazz is. Culture in this city has come to mean black-tie affairs where Bloomberg and his ilk stroke each other while sipping mind-numbingly stupid drinks and listening to music that doesn't jangle their delicate sensibilities.