Well, it’s time to bring in 2016, and hopefully everyone took notes to make adjustments for an even better year, good health, happiness and being an active member of society.
It is most important that you bring in the new year with a bang, and to assist in that endeavor here are a few places offering jazz celebrations for New Year’s Eve.
Cassandra’s Jazz Club & Gallery will offer their first New Year’s celebration as a fledgling jazz club in the Harlem community. The dynamic vocalist, who hits those high notes during her heart-pulling ballads and belts out the blues with passion will be the featured artist, along with the Dwight Dickerson Quartet.
General admission is $75 per person and for persons older than 55, it will be $55 if you reserve reservation by Dec. 27. Call 917-435-2250 or check website cassandrasjazz.com. Cassandra’s is located at 2256 7th Ave. (between 132nd and 133rd streets). A jam session begins after midnight.
Sistas’ Place (456 Nostrand Ave.), the Brooklyn jazz mecca celebrating its 20th anniversary, will feature the Craig Harris Band. The trombonist, composer Harris will break out his repertoire of music from straight jazz to all-out funk for dancing, not meditating. Showtime begins at 10:30 p.m., and the $50 per person admission includes a soul food buffet and champagne toast. For reservations, call 718-398-1766.
Showmans (375 W. 125th St.), the oldest jazz club in Harlem, having opened its doors in 1942, will continue its New Year’s Eve tradition with a southern-style dinner and midnight champagne toast, with live jazz group and DJ. Admission is $30 per person. For reservations, call 212-864-8941.
Showmans’ signature mark of a top hat and cane has become an international logo to many, as has the frosted glass of its front door and mirror behind the bar. The long-running venue has showcased such musicians as Sarah Vaughan, Lionel Hampton, Pearl Bailey, Eartha Kitt, Grady Tate, Jimmy Preacher Robins, the Copasetics, with hoofer Honi Cole, and Ruth Brown.
A night in tropical paradise with the Eddie Palmieri Salsa Orchestra
Some years ago, if dancing salsa on New Year’s Eve was your thing, then the place to be was the Hotel Diplomat (42nd Street) or the Concourse Plaza (the Bronx). This year salsa is happening at S.O.B.’s in lower Manhattan (220 Varick St.) presenting “A Night in Tropical Paradise,” with Salsa legend Eddie Palmieri and the Tropicana Dancers.
A Grammy winner and former member of the blazing Fania All Stars, Palmieri will have the dance floor to capacity for the entire evening.
SOB’s will offer two party-package options for ringing in the New Year. The platinum package, $200 (8 p.m.), includes a five-course seated dinner and a table reservation for the evening. The gold package $80 (10 p.m.), is non-seated and includes passed hors d’oeuvres. Both packages include a midnight classic champagne toast and traditional party favors.
There is also a ($50) French Caribbean Soiree at 12:30 a.m., featuring Carimi and T-Vice, until 6 a.m., with breakfast at dawn. For reservations, visit the website, email sobsnye2016@gmail.com or call 212-243-4940.
On Manhattan’s Upper West Side at the Smoke Jazz & Supper Club (2751 Broadway between 104th and 105th streets), the Eric Alexander & Harold Mabern Sextet will bring in the New Year.
The all-star sextet will include the bassist John Webber, the drummer Joe Farnsworth, the saxophonist Alexander and the pianist legendary elder statesman Mabern (he has enjoyed stints with Lee Morgan, Miles Davis, Grant Green, Joe Williams and Sonny Rollins). Special guests will be the alto saxophonist Vincent Herring and the trumpeter Eddie Henderson.
There will be two sets, at 6:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. The dinner package includes a four-course dinner with wine and beer, open bar and a champagne toast, for $225 plus sales tax and gratuity. The early show (6:30 p.m.) is $125 per person plus tax and gratuity.
For reservations call 212-864-6662 or visit smokejazz.com.
Have a great time regardless of what you do. More importantly, have a healthy and successful New Year. Jazz reflects life. It lives on forever. Listen and enjoy.