| Rating |
Date Attended [v] |
Reviewer |
Gender |
Age |
Where From? |
Group Type? |
|
Great introduction to 'out of town' New York
|
| Sat, Mar 6 7:30 PM |
marro1 |
Female |
50-59 |
International Tourist(s) |
Other |
| Really enjoyed the tour - we were visiting New York from the UK and it was great opportunity to see some New York life that was 'off the tourist track'. Thoroughly recommended for a taste of New York life that was a bit different. |
|
Hidden Harlem Jazz Treasure
|
| Fri, Jan 8 7:30 PM |
Claiborne84 |
Male |
40-49 |
Local |
Individual |
| I live near NYC and I thought I'd seen it all. This was probably the best tour and musical event I've ever been to. You will never have this much fun in Manhattan. Going to Harlem on this tour is a must! |
|
|
Unbelievable
|
| Sat, Dec 19, 09 7:30 PM |
asaparker |
Female |
60-69 |
Domestic Tourist(s) |
Family Without Children |
| Go with me in your mind....a snowy night strolling the streets of the New Harlem....what a rebirth. Make you way with me to the Shrine Club to hear two groups and have great food. A quick cab ride over to St. Nick's Pub for a REAL jam session. The locals took turns dazzling us with their vibe and songs. It was SUCH a treat. One of the best nights ever!
Don't walk...run to call Gordon for a great night on the town. |
|
|
So glad we did this tour!
|
| Fri, Dec 18, 09 7:30 PM |
sarahleal |
Female |
40-49 |
Domestic Tourist(s) |
Group of Friends |
| We really enjoyed our Friday night Harlem Jazz tour! For those of you who are hesitant to do this tour - don't be. Gordon took good care of us. He is well known in the area and we were shown a side of Harlem we never knew existed. It was definitely different - which is what we wanted. Thanks again Gordon!!
Sarah & Richard (TX) |
|
Had a good time, not what I expected from descript
|
| Sat, Dec 12, 09 7:30 PM |
Faith685 |
Female |
40-49 |
Domestic Tourist(s) |
Other |
| Gordon was a knowledgeable and happy guide. The evening was fun and I feel I had a good experience of Harlem. Starting with the exhibit of photos we viewed of Jazz performers before we left mid-town. The St Nick's Pub was a true experience. The food, collard greens and Mac & cheese, Chicken and fudge cake cooked off premises and served in a casual manner. For jazz the club's core band was very good and the open mike night had some interesting characters playing. The trip to Mr. Edwards Tap studio was a real treat. I like the sort of tap he shared with the group. This was a fun evening and I enjoyed myself, but not the type of evening I expected. I was anticipating slightly more polished venues, two, possibly three clubs is what I figured, where semi-professional and professional jazz musicians would play. I expected to see the performers CD's for sale and thought I might buy one as a souvenier. I was disappointed the only Jazz I experienced was the open mike night. I would recomend this if you are up for a Harlem experience but not neccesarily if you were expecting to hear a lot of Jazz.. Respectfully Submitted , December 17 2009 |
|
|
inspiring experience
|
| Fri, Dec 11, 09 7:30 PM |
GalilaAgam |
Female |
60-69 |
International Tourist(s) |
Individual |
| Learnt a lot, enjoyed the music and atmosphere, the flexible nature of the tour made it even more enjoyable |
|
|
Hear Jazz in Places You Would Never Find
|
| Fri, Nov 20, 09 7:30 PM |
PeterRosegg |
Male |
60-69 |
Domestic Tourist(s) |
Individual |
| I visit New York frequently and have heard jazz in midtown and downtown. The Harlem Juke Joint tour took me places I had never heard of, would never have found and probably would not feel comfortable visiting on my own. Now I know I can go back next time I visit. We went to the Shrine, named in tribute to Fela Kuti's one-time music club in Lagos, Nigeria. As it happened, the next day I had tickets to see Fela! a Broadway production about the life of Fela Kuti. Over the top of the stage was emblazoned "The Shrine." The Shrine we visited on Friday was a hopping place. We happened to catch a New Orleans-style brass band (from Scranton, PA!!) and it was fun. Then we went to a "speakeasy," more precisely a parlor -- a small basement apartment that sax great Bill Saxton has converted into a private club. We sat knee to knee with the four-piece band, listened to some great jazz, and chatted with the muscians betwteen numbers and between sets. Gordon, the tour organizer and guide, is a true jazz lover and a historian as well. Walking between clubs, we visited some sites that years ago were legendary to Harlem jazz but unfortunately today there is almost no sign of past splendor. These visits to non-existant sites are always a little depressing. Still, Gordon's enthusiasm was palpable and we had some time to kill. This is not a tour for everyone. More cautious or nervous folks might prefer the Sunday bus tour which goes to three places, not two. But for me, being in a small, amiable group (three women from Canada, two guys including me plus Gordon) was a fun way to get a taste of Harlem jazz. Like a bunch of friends on a jazz crawl. It is not a cheap evening ($100 for the tour plus paying for your own food, drink and tips for the band) but I don't regret it. Something different. Next time I am in New York I intend to check out the Shrine and Bill's Place. If I can only find someone with the guts to go along. Gordon also turned me on to hothousejazz.com, a great site (and monthly publication) that is the best guide to what is happening jazz-wise in NYC that I have seen. All in all, I had a fine experience I will be talking about for a long time, or at least until I go on another Big Apple jazz junket. |
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|
Harlem Juke Joint Tour a highlight of our vacation
|
| Fri, Nov 20, 09 7:30 PM |
JoanneNyback |
Female |
50-59 |
International Tourist(s) |
Group of Friends |
| Friday evening in Harlem with Gordon was a highlight of our vacation. We all enjoyed the experience very much. Gordon was a very knowledgeable tour guide who was full of interesting tidbits. He does an excellent job of finding interesting venues to experience on this tour. If you enjoy jazz you will have a great time on this tour. |
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|
authentic, personal, musical, enthusiastic...
|
| Fri, Nov 13, 09 9:30 PM |
dcolner |
Male |
50-59 |
Unspecified |
Unspecified |
| gordon is a true jazz insider, and fan. he is known and welcomed in the clubs not as a guide, but as a friend and jazz guy. very knowledgeable, accomodating. the experience is real and current, not only historic, or looky-loo. i had a great time. |
|
|
One of the best tours I have ever done.
|
| Sat, Oct 17, 09 7:30 PM |
bevie123 |
Female |
60-69 |
International Tourist(s) |
Family Without Children |
| This was such fun and our 'leader' was a fantastic man who had a great love of jazz and conveyed it to everyone. The clubs he took us to werequite different, one slightly up market and one a real jazz pub with wall to wall people - a real buzz.. The food we ordered was excellent. I would recommend this to anyone who loves jazz and a good time. Fantastic! |
