Birdland is a New York City jazz club that first opened in December 1949. The original location was on 1678 Broadway in Manhattan, just north of 52nd Avenue. However, the club was closed in 1965 due to an increase in rent costs, but in 1979 it only reopened for one night. The revival began in the late 1980s. This is because a second nightclub was opened to use its name for what is now known as the Manhattan Theatre District.
As Charlie Parker, or his friends and family know him, “Bird” was the inspiration and headliner for the Birdland Club. Shortly after the 52nd Street Scene fell, Birdland was born and gained infamy over the next 15 years as it was home to double and triple bills that began around 9pm and sometimes continued until dawn.
Birdland had jazz legends such as Charlie Parker and the club-headquarter Earl of Bassy. In fact, George Shearing’s “Birdland’s Nursery” was recorded there, and John Coltrane’s “Live at Birdland” was also recorded.
During the first five years of business, around 1,400,000 patrons joined the club and paid a $1.50 admission fee to hear legends like Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane, Stan Getz, Eroll Garner, Bud Powell, Lester Young and more.
Seeing the way Birdland produced such topics, it’s no surprise that the club attracted many celebrities, including Sugar Ray Robinson, Gary Cooper, Joe Louis, Ava Gardner, Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Sammy Davis Jr. and Murrayn Dietrich.
Over the years, Birdland has called several locations home. One such place was 2745 Broadway, which was extremely popular for its unique setup and excellent acoustics. Over 2,000 emerging artists have performed at the club over a decade, and the owners couldn’t help but feel like something was missing.
Eventually, he decided to return the club to its original home, Midtown.
Where is Birdland Jazz Club located?
Birdland Jazz Club is located at Hell’s Kitchen (315 W 44th St) in Manhattan. You can take the subway In 42 ST – Port Bureau bus terminal Or row In Times SQ – 42 St.
Both metro stations are within a 5-10 minute walk.
My Tip: Check out this amazing Jazz Private Walking Tour
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01 Private Jazz Walking Tour with Louis Armstrong
This is a truly amazing guided tour for all jazz fans who want to learn more about the famous Louis Armstrong life and his work in New York. Starting with jazz at Lincoln Center, take a look at the main venues and jazz clubs on your tour. As an option, you can attend a jazz concert in the evening!
