Big Apple Jazz Tours

What a brilliant night! I can't thank Gordon enough for taking us on this tour, and cannot recommend it highly enough. As a jazz vocalist, I had pretty high expectations, but they were well and truly blown - from the first show at The Shrine (where I got to sing with the band!), to the second, mind-blowingly good show at the hippest new jazz club - Red Rooster, to the final show at the Legions Club (in the basement of a brownstone!) and everything in between, it was fantastic. I learnt so much, and had a fantastic night along the way. My husband (a newly converted jazz fan but non-musician) also adored it and said that it was one of the highlights of his week in NYC.

This was an excellent tour that brings you into the bowels of Harlem to places you would never find on your own. Gordon the tour guide and owner was excellent.

Great tour. Exceeded my expectations. Knowledgeable, friendly tour guide (Gordon), made everyone feel welcome. No confusion in getting around. No planned itinerary, we all trusted Gordon's choice of clubs. My perception of Harlem was fearsome. The tour negated the fear. I highly recommend the tour to others. Good job Gordon!!!!

Muy interesante y excelente el guia. La cena fue muy buena en el primero de los lugares que estuvimos, y en los otros tambien se podia cenar pero optamos por tomar algo. A mi me quedó muy claro como es el mundo del Jazz en nyc. Realmente muy interesante y recomendable.

Gordon is a very nice and interesting person. He made us discover clubs off the "famous jazz sites" circuit. All of three were very good - a special mention for the second and the third one, for different reasons. Thanks a lot, Gordon, from Cuba and France.

Informative Perfect for couples who want to escape from the buzz of Times square and listen to hidden jazz trios in Harlem. The visit to Harlem is a unique experience itself so don t miss it. Harlem is not the nicest place on Earth and if it wasn t for jazz I honestly would t go there by myself. However, the vibe of the 1930 jazz clubs and the atmosphere of the neighborhood is still there!!will learn a lot about History of jazz on this tour,the beginning of the beginning,where it all started,the spots where many jazz stars lived or were discovered. I mean,walking by the streets of Ella FiDzgerald or see the house where Scott Joplin lived is memorable! Don t miss red rooster restaurant! The best music ever! Overall,very good evening,excellent tour guide,you will feel safe and see a different NY but most of all listen real jazz..

This tour is SO great. Gordon leads it and he is not only fun and knowledgable, but he is also well liked by the musicians, club owners and the residents of the neighborhood. He brought us to two clubs; both were wonderful -- great jazz, great people. We went with my daughter and her boyfriend who play in their high school jazz band. Gordon arranged for Sam to sit in on the drums for one set. It was thrilling. The other musicians and patrons could not have been more warm and welcoming. We did not want the night to end. A total treat if you love jazz, a total treat if you love NYC, a total treat if you want to do something fun and different.

The tour we went on was really great; Gordon showed us bits of the history of NYC jazz on the tour of Harlem.We went to authentic venues, listened to real musicians and had a great time. Recommend it to anyone looking for a genuine jazz experience. Gordon is very knowledgeable, well connected and genuinely great fun!

Gordon was a knowledgeable host and seemed to know everyone in Harlem. The venues would not have been found by us of our own accord. We were a little disappointed with the first venue which featured Reggae rather than the jazz we expected. However, Gordon will get you to the real Harlem and to some great jazz.

gordon has a lovely demeanor and made a disparate group of people feel very comfortable. it was well organized, easy commuting and good music. i would do it again and have recommended it to friends.

You will learn and experience details about Harlem and hear some good music!

We really enjoyed our tour. The guide (Gordon) was extremely knowledgeable, approachable, and friendly. We ended up with a great overview of Harlem and music's role there. Had the tour ended after the first club, I would have given it five stars. Unfortunately, the second club (with Saxy and his crew) was a bit of a letdown. The vibe and music just wasn't that great and the drink prices were midtown level prices. Perhaps this included a cover charge, but all covers should have been taken care of in the price of the tickets. I would probably take the tour again and I would definitely go back to the first club again. It's clear that the guide has a passion for jazz and he is eager to share that love, but perhaps he could rethink the second location used on our night.

Gordon leads a very personalized tour, and takes you to places you wouldn't find on your own. He has a load of knowledge and a great love for jazz. We felt so comfortable, and after the Apollo (which was an unexpected surprise) he took us to a little "joint" where there was wonderful live jazz ensemble, and we could dance and have a drink, and even order Chinese food from next door! Without Gordon we would probably have not ventured on our own. We haven;t stopped describing it to others.... all of whom say it was a wonderful idea and where did we find it? Thanks so much, Mona and Sandor Klein

If you're a jazz fan and want to have a deeper understanding of the jazz scene in New York, after you've been to the Blue Note, after the Village Vanguard, then this is the tour for you. Gordon takes you to places most tourists never go. And the people there are welcoming and gracious hosts. And the jazz is the real deal. How we entered a standing room only intimate historical jazz club and I ended up with one of the best seats in the house is a mystery to me but Gordon pulled it off. He felt more like a friend and fellow jazz fan than a tour guide. It's a night I will never forget.

Fun visit to small Harlem clubs! Loved the Soul Food! Gordon made it really easy to get in to the various places, found us great food, gave us history snippets and found us a cab to get back to our hotel. Musicians and club owners were wonderfully welcoming and entertaining. Well worth it! --Dave and Carey from Canada