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When you think of jazz clubs, there are a few famous names that come mind. The jazz clubs of New York, Paris and Chicago all have interesting histories and made some jazz players famous throughout the world. However, you may not necessarily recognize the names of the club owners who made these performances possible.

One of the world’s most famous jazz venues is the Blue Note Jazz Club in Greenwich Village, New York City. Although it didn’t open until 1981, it is now synonymous with modern jazz. It’s owner, is a jazz player [...]

The impromptu jam session is where jazz thrives. Whether it is seasoned players experimenting or newcomers looking to prove themselves, you are guaranteed to catch some great music. These seven players are just a few of the instrumentalists who helped bring rise to the modern jam session:

Art Tatum
Stride piano players like Fats Waller, James P. Johnson and Tatum would pit their chops against each other in ‘cutting contests’. Tatum was known to win consistently.

Charlie Parker
With the rise of bebop came [...]

The History Of The After Hours Jazz Jam Session

New York City Jazz Jams
Improvised jam sessions were quite popular in Post-War New York City in the late 40′s and 50′s. This was when jazz musicians would gather and spontaneously create music together. Minton’s Playhouse was one of the most famous and popular joints for jazz jams. Essentially, musicians from all over New York City would drop into the club with their instruments. In a way, this became a rich meeting ground [...]

It may be difficult to believe today, but jazz was once a big business. The jazz clubs of Harlem made staggering amounts of money and the officials of the New York City wanted a slice of the pie.

It took years to find a regulatory structure that worked, but eventually the taxation bureau of the NYC government found a way. They instituted a draconian “cabaret tax” in 1944, immediately before the jazz-hungry soldiers returned from overseas. The tax was imposed on any business that allowed both music and dancing.

Desperate to save their bottom [...]

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