There are few places that are as hallowed in the jazz world than the Village Vanguard in Greenwich Village, New York City.
The jazz club has been the setting for countless legendary performances by the who’s who of the jazz world. So many giants of the jazz genre have played at the Village Vanguard that paying a visit to the club almost feels unbelievable.
History of the Village Vanguard in Greenwich Village, New York City
Located along 7th Avenue, Village Vanguard opened its doors back in February 1935. It was opened by Max Gordon, the famed jazz promoter.
Strangely enough, it did not originally present jazz. Instead, it was a venue for folk music and the hip beat poetry of the era. However, this was to change over time and, after two decades, the Village Vanguard became synonymous with jazz.
There would be jam sessions held at the Village Vanguard on Sunday afternoons where patrons could hear musicians like Lester Young and Ben Webster blowing their horn on stage.
Unlike the Birdland jazz club, the Village Vanguard has been at the same location since the day it opened. It is now the oldest jazz club in New York City. And, it still attracts some of the greatest jazz musicians through its doors.
Over the years, jazz giants who have played at the Village Vanguard have included Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Gerry Mulligan, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Sonny Rollins, Anita O’Day, Horace Silver, Charlie Mingus, Bill Evans and Stan Getz.
Booking Tickets for a Show at Village Vanguard
To catch a show at Village Vanguard, head over to the venue’s website.
At the website, you will be able to view who are the artists performing on the dates that you wish to visit.
Do take note that the tickets to the shows at Village Vanguard, especially when there are popular artists playing, sell out quickly. So it is best to plan ahead. If possible try to book at least a month or two in advance to avoid disappointment.
Once you have made the booking and purchased the tickets, you will receive a general admission ticket for the date of the show.
Arriving and Settling Down at the Village Vanguard Jazz Club
When we arrived at the Village Vanguard, we immediately got excited to see the red door with the marquee stretching out to the street. Its location at 178 7th Avenue South is such a revered one.
The Village Vanguard is located in the basement of the building. Opening the doors, there is a narrow flight of 15 steps heading down into the basement where the jazz club can be found.
At the door, you just need to provide your name for them to check it off against your booking. It is still preferable that you do have a copy of your tickets with you in case you need to show them.
Upon entering in to the club, straight ahead is the seating area and the stage.
It is surprising how small the Village Vanguard actually is. However, the management also packs it in. So, you will end up sitting shoulder to shoulder with other guests.
Here is a tip. Seating is allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Therefore, it is recommended to arrive early for the greatest choice of seats. The latest that you should arrive is 15 minutes before the scheduled start time of the show. It is probably even better to arrive earlier than that.
Show times at the Village Vanguard are at 8 pm and 10 pm. The doors for the first show opens at 7 pm while the doors for the second show opens at 9.30 pm.
We found ourselves seated at a table several several tables back from the front of the stage. However, the club is so small and intimate that there really is no bad seat. You can get a view of the action on the stage from most spots within the premises.
It is very cramped and you can expect to be seated right next up to the other guests.
There is a one drink minimum per person at the Village Vanguard. We were presented with a drinks menu and had a while to consider what to get before our server came back to take our order.
The choice of beverages include non-alcoholic such as the usual sodas ($5), juices ($5) and two choices of mocktails ($8), fruit punch (48), ginger beer ($7) and Pellegrino water ($9).
For those who want something stiffer, the beverage menu also include liquers and aperitifs. Or choose from a list of brandy and cognac.
Cocktails include Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Cosmopolitan and more ($16).
Take note that gratuity needs to be added on top of the bill. Parties of six of more will have a 20% gratuity automatically added on to the bill.
Village Vanguard does not serve any food, including any tidbits or peanuts. So, you should plan to either get something to eat before or after the show.
Just in case anyone is wondering, there is a rest room around to the left of the entrance doorway.
Listening to the Music & Appreciating the Artistry of Jazz
You can expect only the best, top notched artists to perform at Village Vanguard. We were not disappointed as we were there when Christian McBride and his band Inside Straight was performing.
Village Vanguard has very strict rules when it comes to the performances. For example, photos and videos of the performances are not allowed. Despite this, during the performance, there was another guest who was seated right in front of the stage and taking pictures. The staff went over and made him stop taking pictures.
There is a quiet policy observed during the music. This is to show respect to the artists who are performing. When the artists are playing, they should be given the due attention. Guests are of course welcomed to get into the music and there would be cheers and shouts of appreciations.
The artists also would banter with the crowd. And given the intimate space, the interaction felt very present and real.
In fact, the Village Vanguard encourages all the guests to go “device-free” during the time in the club.
On the ticket, it says, “Here at the Vanguard, we strive for a device-free experience. It is all about the music and the experience, in the moment, at the club. We challenge you to remain hands-off your devices for the 75 odd (occasionally very odd) minutes of the set.”
And once the music starts, it really is about living in the moment and soaking in the musical vibes that the artists give off from the stage. It is simply quite magical.
It is probably also useful to know that Monday nights are set aside for performances by the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. The ensemble has its origins as the Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra and has been a fixture at the Village Vanguard since 1966.
Gift Store and Souvenirs
They say that time flies when you are having fun and we had such a good time that time flew by.
If you want to take home something from your visit to Village Vanguard, you can do so by purchasing some merchandise from the bar. The bar is located at the back of the room, on the right of the entrance when you first walk in.
Available gifts include t-shirts ($25), caps ($22) and a book ($30).
Overall Experience at Village Vanguard
For those who love jazz, a visit to the world famous Village Vanguard while in New York City is a must-do.
It is a very different experience from a visit to Birdland. While you can get dinner and a show at Birdland, at the Village Vanguard, it is all about the music. It does feel more claustrophobic at the Village Vanguard but that is also part of the entire experience where the focus is on the musicians on stage and intimacy with the music.
Village Vanguard
Where: 178 Seventh Avenue South, New York, NY 10014
Visit the Village Vanguard website
If you are a musician, you may also be interested in visiting Guitar Center in New York City, a 15 minute walk away from Village Vanguard.
