Big Apple Jazz

Big Apple Jazz Boutique and EZ’s Woodshed Cafe
2236 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd. (Seventh Ave)
Between West 131 and 132nd Streets
Tel. (212) 283-JAZZ (5299)
BigAppleJazz.com

B, C / 2, 3 Trains to 135th or the M2 bus stops right in front

 

Big Apple Jazz is a nice, cozy area tucked away on Adam Clayton Powell, Blvd. It is an average looking building that doesn’t stand out from the rest of the neighborhood but don’t let that fool you because the place is great!

The first room that greets visitors is the front room. This room contains various New York related jazz memorabilia. There are t-shirts, posters, cds, etc. for sale. There is also a small cafe where you can order wraps and other things to snack on. I didn’t try anything from the cafe but it sure smelled good!

The back room is where the action is. Known as EZ’s Woodshed it serves as a space for jam sessions and special events. There are a couple of tables and chairs, with a decent amount of standing space. The walls are covered with classic posters advertising old performances from the likes of Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong.

I went to an open mic event that featured Malachi and others, and it was fantastic! The small space really allowed him and the other performers to engage the crowd in an intimate way.

Check it out!

Reef is a Jersey boy trying to make it in a Harlem world. Reef welcomes comments so send him an email. For more Reefy goodness, check out his blog

Related: Pianist Rudel Drears performs at EZ’s Woodshed weekly.