time lounge
At the end of 2012, one of the cathedrals of jazz, La Fídula (Huertas 57), put the final closure. In this way he said goodbye to some troubled parishioners who, for 35 years, attended the evolution of the Madrid jazz school. Some of the regulars on his compressed stage, Sebastián Chames, Nirankar Khalsa and Héctor Oliveira, have justified enthusiastic weekend evenings. However, the life of live music continues in the city, with unparalleled quality.
Among the huge live musical proposal that we find in the metropolitan territory, we chose these spaces consecrated to the black genre. It is possible that we have been convinced by its decent programming, immune to short-term droughts, a sense effort to satisfy music-loving appetites and, perhaps also, the aura of these places, which welcomed (our) legends. These musical sanctuaries don't need labels to embrace the underground concept. This is just the beginning:
The Madrid trio Talk! in The Intruder
**1) La Coquette (Rows, 14) ** In the neighborhood of Ópera resides the one that can be proclaimed cradle of city blues, capable of maintaining its live shows from Tuesday to Thursday – another of the referents of black music, the late Beethoven Blues Bar, did not suffer the same fate. La Coquette's fame crossed the pond and reached North America: when the respected The Dynamites, coming from Tennessee, dropped by Madrid, the drummer wanted to know where the mythical cave was located.
For 27 years he has quoted the cream of the national scene, and from a large part of the foreigner: Jairus DePedro, Shelters of Blues (by Amparo Sánchez), **the high-voltage blues of Tres Hombres** and Tonky, the veteran blues guitarist and key figure in African-American music in Madrid, as well as a good selection of greats from the Chicago. Don't miss the jam sessions on Sunday, orchestrated by Quique Gómez.
La Coquette, at Opera
**2)Tempo Club (Duque de Osuna, 8) ** Conde Duque moves to the rhythm of blues, jazz, funk and afro in the neighborhood cathedral, the Tempo Club. He's probably the joint with the most interesting programming on the Madrid scene . During the day, the large windows overlooking the square herald a retro 1960s coffee shop. when the sun goes down, the psychedelic essence dresses up as a club.
The head of all this, Roberto Tempo, has declared his love for music by summoning artists of the stature of Will Bernard, The Blackbirds, The Newmastersounds, Ebo Taylor, the British soul-jazz band Filthy Six, the soloist Paloma Carballo, the soul and beats of the Groovin' Flamingos, the quintessential Finnish saxophonist, Timo Lassy, and The Dynamites.
time club
**3) Moe Club (Alberto Alcocer, 32) ** At 12 years old, the Cuzco club located on the ground floor of a residential building has programmed an impeccable offer of black rhythms on its stage, one of the most unique in the capital: Bob Stroger & The European Band, The Bob Sands Big Band, the blues by Gatos Bizcos and the jams by the harmonica player and singer Quique Gómez, responsible for convincing artists from the Chicago scene.
The suggested programming his little brother, the recent ** El Intruso (Augusto Figueroa, 3) ** has consolidated a 'family friend' audience, with a heterogeneous offer and schedules for night owls. A concession: his second brother, the now defunct Motown, had the honor of being for years the only alternative to black music from the north of Madrid (in the Pilar neighborhood).
Ray at the Moe Club
**4) El Junco (Plaza de Santa Barbara, 10) ** One of the favorite clubs for school night owls, and devourers of funk and blues, distills the essence of New York jazz clubs . Every Thursday, it schedules its Black Jam led by Susana Ruiz (Funkwoman), Celofunk's forceful voice. At his side are usually Carlos Murillo, David Salvador Fructuoso and the consecrated Spanish blues and jazz drummer Pax Groove. Beyond his decent agenda, his jams have become the reference jam session.
Black jam at El Junco
**5)La Boca del Lobo (Echegaray, 11) ** The most authentic place in Echegaray (with permission from Cardamomo) became a pioneer of song jam, always full to the brim. The Madrid band funk The Sweet Vandals every Wednesday brings together amateurs and professionals of the African-American sound in Roots & Grooves Jam Session. If mambo is your thing, your date is Thursday from 23.30, at Mambo Jam Session. The DJ sessions, such as Dj Floro, and their concert schedule (Lucky Dados and Priscilla Band, in March) complete a consistent musical agenda.
The Mouth of the Wolf, in Echegaray.
**6)Café Central (Plaza del Angel, 10) ** The Huertas classic reached thirty last year. The tiny plaza, neighboring Santa Ana, looks the old cafe windows , who have seen parade several jazz generations (musicians, critics, demanding and lovers) . Pianists like Ignasi Terraza, soloists like Natalia Dicenta, New Yorker Jerry González and American saxophonist Sam Rivers have contributed to consolidate a level capable of convincing the very American jazz magazine Down Beat. Its list of the 150 best jazz havens in the world includes the Plaza del Ángel room, one of the two Spanish clubs in the selection.
To be continue...
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O Sister! at Cafe Central