Jam sessions

Where to play, or to hear musicians stretch out after their gigs. 33 regular jams across the city, by day of the week. Bring your horn, learn the tunes, and say hi to the host.

Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Monthly

WednesdaysToday

11:55pm–4am

Smalls Late-Night JamSmalls · West Village

Host: Rotating hosts
Sitting in: Bring your horn and talk to the host. Musicians who play don't pay the cover.
Cost: Listeners: cover plus 1 drink

Straight-ahead standards Source ↗

4–7pm

Happy Hour JamJazzcultural · Hell's Kitchen

Host: John Merrill Trio (Mon), Richard Clements (Tue, with a free piano lesson), John Webber Trio (Wed)
Sitting in: Walk in.
Cost: No music charge before 5pm; 1 drink

Bebop and standards Source ↗

After the last set (about 10:30pm; 11:30pm Fri–Sat)

Set and SessionClose Up · Lower East Side

Host: A featured band each week
Sitting in: The host band plays a set, then the jam opens.
Cost: Ticketed on Viewcy; 1 drink

Open / modern Source ↗

8pm

Russ Nolan Quartet JamSour Mouse · Lower East Side · 110 Delancey St

Host: Russ Nolan Quartet

Straight-ahead Source ↗

About midnight–2am, after the last set

Midnight JamOrnithology Jazz Club · Bushwick

Sitting in: The stage opens after the last set.
Cost: No cover

Open / modernAll levels Source ↗

Concert 7pm, jam 9pm–midnight

Wednesday JAmZZMoondog HiFi · East Williamsburg · 119 Ingraham St

Host: Rotating trio or quartet
Sitting in: Concert set, then musicians join in.
Cost: $10 per person, paid to the artists

Open / modern Source ↗

7–9:30pm

Ditmars SessionsThe Ditty · Astoria · 35-03 Ditmars Blvd

Host: Danny Fernandez
Sitting in: The band plays; guests are invited to sit in.

Jazz and funk Source ↗

Thursdays

11:55pm–4am

Smalls Late-Night JamSmalls · West Village

Host: Rotating hosts
Sitting in: Bring your horn and talk to the host. Musicians who play don't pay the cover.
Cost: Listeners: cover plus 1 drink

Straight-ahead standards Source ↗

Thu–Sat 2–6pm; Sun 10pm

Jam in the CafeJazzcultural · Hell's Kitchen

Host: Steve Nelson (Thu), Panas Athanatos (Fri), Sam Lerner (Sat), Marc Devine (Sun)
Sitting in: Walk in.
Cost: No music charge 2–5pm; 1 drink

Straight-ahead standards Source ↗

After the last set (about 10:30pm; 11:30pm Fri–Sat)

Set and SessionClose Up · Lower East Side

Host: A featured band each week
Sitting in: The host band plays a set, then the jam opens.
Cost: Ticketed on Viewcy; 1 drink

Open / modern Source ↗

10pm–close

Late JamOne Flight Up · Lower Manhattan

Host: Guest hosts
Sitting in: House rhythm section from about 10:30pm.
Cost: No cover; 1 drink

Straight-ahead / open Source ↗

8 & 10pm

Axel Tosca's Cuban JamZinc Bar · Greenwich Village

Host: Axel Tosca
Sitting in: Mostly a show; guests sit in by invitation.
Cost: About $35

Cuban / LatinPros Source ↗

About midnight–2am, after the last set

Midnight JamOrnithology Jazz Club · Bushwick

Sitting in: The stage opens after the last set.
Cost: No cover

Open / modernAll levels Source ↗

Fridays

11:55pm–4am

Smalls Late-Night JamSmalls · West Village

Host: Rotating hosts
Sitting in: Bring your horn and talk to the host. Musicians who play don't pay the cover.
Cost: Listeners: cover plus 1 drink

Straight-ahead standards Source ↗

2–5:15pm

Smalls Afternoon JamSmalls · West Village

Host: Rotating hosts
Sitting in: All musicians welcome to play.
Cost: No cover

Straight-ahead standardsAll levels Source ↗

Thu–Sat 2–6pm; Sun 10pm

Jam in the CafeJazzcultural · Hell's Kitchen

Host: Steve Nelson (Thu), Panas Athanatos (Fri), Sam Lerner (Sat), Marc Devine (Sun)
Sitting in: Walk in.
Cost: No music charge 2–5pm; 1 drink

Straight-ahead standards Source ↗

After the last set (about 10:30pm; 11:30pm Fri–Sat)

Set and SessionClose Up · Lower East Side

Host: A featured band each week
Sitting in: The host band plays a set, then the jam opens.
Cost: Ticketed on Viewcy; 1 drink

Open / modern Source ↗

10:45pm

Late Night Friday JamDizzy's Club · Columbus Circle

Host: Rotating hosts; a vocal jam once a month
Sitting in: Open stage; bring your instrument.
Cost: Cover at the door; 1 drink

Straight-aheadAll levels Source ↗

10pm–close

Late JamOne Flight Up · Lower Manhattan

Host: Guest hosts
Sitting in: House rhythm section from about 10:30pm.
Cost: No cover; 1 drink

Straight-ahead / open Source ↗

About midnight–2am, after the last set

Midnight JamOrnithology Jazz Club · Bushwick

Sitting in: The stage opens after the last set.
Cost: No cover

Open / modernAll levels Source ↗

Saturdays

11:55pm–4am

Smalls Late-Night JamSmalls · West Village

Host: Rotating hosts
Sitting in: Bring your horn and talk to the host. Musicians who play don't pay the cover.
Cost: Listeners: cover plus 1 drink

Straight-ahead standards Source ↗

2–5:15pm

Smalls Afternoon JamSmalls · West Village

Host: Rotating hosts
Sitting in: All musicians welcome to play.
Cost: No cover

Straight-ahead standardsAll levels Source ↗

Thu–Sat 2–6pm; Sun 10pm

Jam in the CafeJazzcultural · Hell's Kitchen

Host: Steve Nelson (Thu), Panas Athanatos (Fri), Sam Lerner (Sat), Marc Devine (Sun)
Sitting in: Walk in.
Cost: No music charge 2–5pm; 1 drink

Straight-ahead standards Source ↗

After the last set (about 10:30pm; 11:30pm Fri–Sat)

Set and SessionClose Up · Lower East Side

Host: A featured band each week
Sitting in: The host band plays a set, then the jam opens.
Cost: Ticketed on Viewcy; 1 drink

Open / modern Source ↗

10pm–close

Late JamOne Flight Up · Lower Manhattan

Host: Guest hosts
Sitting in: House rhythm section from about 10:30pm.
Cost: No cover; 1 drink

Straight-ahead / open Source ↗

About midnight–2am, after the last set

Midnight JamOrnithology Jazz Club · Bushwick

Sitting in: The stage opens after the last set.
Cost: No cover

Open / modernAll levels Source ↗

Sundays

11:55pm–4am

Smalls Late-Night JamSmalls · West Village

Host: Rotating hosts
Sitting in: Bring your horn and talk to the host. Musicians who play don't pay the cover.
Cost: Listeners: cover plus 1 drink

Straight-ahead standards Source ↗

2–5:15pm

Smalls Afternoon JamSmalls · West Village

Host: Rotating hosts
Sitting in: All musicians welcome to play.
Cost: No cover

Straight-ahead standardsAll levels Source ↗

Thu–Sat 2–6pm; Sun 10pm

Jam in the CafeJazzcultural · Hell's Kitchen

Host: Steve Nelson (Thu), Panas Athanatos (Fri), Sam Lerner (Sat), Marc Devine (Sun)
Sitting in: Walk in.
Cost: No music charge 2–5pm; 1 drink

Straight-ahead standards Source ↗

2–6pm

Vocal Open MicJazzcultural · Hell's Kitchen

Host: Noa Chait
Sitting in: Walk in.
Cost: No music charge before 5pm; 1 drink

Singers Source ↗

After the last set (about 10:30pm; 11:30pm Fri–Sat)

Set and SessionClose Up · Lower East Side

Host: A featured band each week
Sitting in: The host band plays a set, then the jam opens.
Cost: Ticketed on Viewcy; 1 drink

Open / modern Source ↗

About midnight–2am, after the last set

Midnight JamOrnithology Jazz Club · Bushwick

Sitting in: The stage opens after the last set.
Cost: No cover

Open / modernAll levels Source ↗

3:30pm

Clube do ChoroBarbès · Park Slope

Host: Fernanda Silveira & Regional Samauma
Sitting in: A casual choro roda in the front room.

Brazilian choro Source ↗

7pm

Ba'sik Jazz JamKato Sake Works · Bushwick · 379 Troutman St

Host: Matt La Von
Sitting in: Bring an instrument and play standards. Running since 2012.
Cost: 1 drink; $10 suggested donation

Straight-ahead standards Source ↗

Mondays

11:55pm–4am

Smalls Late-Night JamSmalls · West Village

Host: Rotating hosts
Sitting in: Bring your horn and talk to the host. Musicians who play don't pay the cover.
Cost: Listeners: cover plus 1 drink

Straight-ahead standards Source ↗

4–7pm

Happy Hour JamJazzcultural · Hell's Kitchen

Host: John Merrill Trio (Mon), Richard Clements (Tue, with a free piano lesson), John Webber Trio (Wed)
Sitting in: Walk in.
Cost: No music charge before 5pm; 1 drink

Bebop and standards Source ↗

After the last set (about 10:30pm; 11:30pm Fri–Sat)

Set and SessionClose Up · Lower East Side

Host: A featured band each week
Sitting in: The host band plays a set, then the jam opens.
Cost: Ticketed on Viewcy; 1 drink

Open / modern Source ↗

About midnight–2am, after the last set

Midnight JamOrnithology Jazz Club · Bushwick

Sitting in: The stage opens after the last set.
Cost: No cover

Open / modernAll levels Source ↗

Set 9pm, jam 10:30pm

Monday SessionFilthy Diamond · Bushwick · 679 Knickerbocker Ave

Host: Matei Predescu
Sitting in: Jam follows the opening set.

Straight-ahead / modern Source ↗

10:30pm–about 1am

Monday Night SessionsThe Keep · Ridgewood · 2-05 Cypress Ave

Host: Ryan Weisheit & friends
Sitting in: Join in the second set.
Cost: No cover; cash bar

Straight-ahead / modern Source ↗

Tuesdays

11:55pm–4am

Smalls Late-Night JamSmalls · West Village

Host: Rotating hosts
Sitting in: Bring your horn and talk to the host. Musicians who play don't pay the cover.
Cost: Listeners: cover plus 1 drink

Straight-ahead standards Source ↗

4–7pm

Happy Hour JamJazzcultural · Hell's Kitchen

Host: John Merrill Trio (Mon), Richard Clements (Tue, with a free piano lesson), John Webber Trio (Wed)
Sitting in: Walk in.
Cost: No music charge before 5pm; 1 drink

Bebop and standards Source ↗

9pm–late (jam from about 10:45pm)

Tuesday Trad Jazz JamMona's · East Village · 224 Avenue B

Host: Mona's Hot Four
Sitting in: Arrive around 10:45pm with your instrument. Piano, bass and amps provided; no drum kit.
Cost: Free; tip the band

Trad and 1920s–30s hot jazzAll levels Source ↗

8–11pm

Tuesday JamThe Lost and Found · Chelsea · 372 8th Ave

Host: Stefano Doglioni Group
Sitting in: House band hosts; newcomers welcome.

Straight-ahead and swingAll levels Source ↗

10pm–close

Vocal JamOne Flight Up · Lower Manhattan

Host: Guest hosts
Sitting in: Sign up when you arrive; earlier means a better spot on the list.
Cost: No cover; 1 drink

Singers Source ↗

9pm–midnight

The Penny SessionsPenny Jo's · Washington Heights · 3898 Broadway

Host: Wilfie Williams
Cost: No cover

Straight-ahead standards Source ↗

7:30–10pm

WaHi Weekly JamKismat · Hudson Heights · 603 Fort Washington Ave

Host: Louise Rogers & Mark Kross
Sitting in: No long opening set: the jam starts when you arrive.
Cost: No cover, no minimum

Standards; singers welcomeAll levels Source ↗

8–11pm

Tuesday JamBar Bayeux · Prospect Lefferts Gardens

Host: House band, often Bruce Barth, Vicente Archer & Diego Voglino
Sitting in: House band plays first, then the jam opens. Singers and players welcome.
Cost: No cover; 1 drink

Straight-ahead standards Source ↗

About midnight–2am, after the last set

Midnight JamOrnithology Jazz Club · Bushwick

Sitting in: The stage opens after the last set.
Cost: No cover

Open / modernAll levels Source ↗

Monthly & most nights

Most nights, about 11pm–1am

Late Night JamCafe Ornithology · Bushwick

Host: Rotating residency hosts
Sitting in: Sit in for a tune. Piano, drums, bass and mics provided.
Cost: Free

Open / modern Source ↗

Second Wednesday of the month, 7pm

Monthly Jazz JamFlushing Town Hall · Flushing

Host: Carol Sudhalter and house band
Sitting in: Play with the house band; bring sheet music.
Cost: Players free; listeners $15

Standards (monthly theme)All levels Source ↗

Second Sunday of the month, 8pm

Ridgewood Jazz Monthly JamDada · Ridgewood · 60-47 Myrtle Ave

Host: Michael Feinberg / Ridgewood Jazz
Sitting in: House band plays, then the stage opens.

Straight-ahead / modern Source ↗

First Monday of the month, 7:30–10pm

WaHi Vocal JamLe Chéile · Washington Heights · 839 W 181st St

Host: Louise Rogers
Sitting in: Featured singer's set, then the vocal jam.

Singers Source ↗

Usually first Thursday of the month, 7–10pm

Tribeca Jazz Institute JamChurch Street School for Music & Art · Tribeca · 41 White St

Host: Rotating
Sitting in: Student sets and a featured group, then the jam.
Cost: Free; donations welcome

Straight-aheadAll levels Source ↗

Second Wednesday of the month, 6–9pm

Queer Jazz Collective JamHenrietta Hudson · West Village · 438 Hudson St

Host: Rotating hosts
Sitting in: Featured band, then queer and women musicians sit in.

Open Source ↗

Second and last Saturdays: set 8pm, jam 9pm

Set & SessionBroadway Dive · Upper West Side · 2662 Broadway

Host: Gabriel Schillinger-Hyman
Sitting in: Quartet set, then open jam.
Cost: No cover

Straight-ahead Source ↗

2nd and 4th Wednesdays, 7–10pm

Jazz Jam at SuperfineSuperfine · DUMBO · 126 Front St

Host: Ray Scro

Straight-ahead Source ↗

Monthly on a Friday, 9:30pm–1am

Vortex NightBrooklyn Vortex · Greenpoint · 252 Norman Ave #201

Host: Jesse Lynch
Sitting in: Featured band, then sit-ins.
Cost: Cover goes to the players

Open / modern Source ↗

First Thursday of the month, 8–11pm

First Thursdays JamThe Hop Shoppe · Stapleton · 372 Van Duzer St

Host: Ray Scro

Straight-ahead Source ↗

Jams change hosts and nights often; check the source link before you haul a bass across town. Run a jam we're missing? Email listings@jazznow.org.