Do you hear that, New York? That’s the sound of the jazz renaissance making its way back to New York.
New York has been one of the great jazz capitals of the world for over a century, and 52nd Street has been one of the great jazz capitals of New York for just as long. Known to history as the “Swing Street” of the city, 52nd Street came to prominence after the repeal of prohibition enabled club owners to move their operations from Harlem to Midtown. From 1930 through the late 1950’s the jazz clubs on 52nd hosted some of the most iconic names in New York jazz, names like Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Billie Holliday, and Fats Waller. In its prime, the street was so entrenched with the jazz scene that Billy Joel titled his legendary 52nd Street album after the swinging street.
Now, a new club is opening up that looks to put the Swing back in the Swing Street. Room 52 is a brand new concept from entrepreneur Eric Kovar. Opening up in a former jazz club at 212 East 52nd Street, the new club is envisioned as a private jazz club that will be reserved for events like weddings, bar mitzvahs, corporate events, and other private events. Naturally, the space is properly outfitted to host live music alongside the planned events as well.
Bringing back the swagger and flair of the golden era of bebop and jazz, Eric has been hard at work restoring the club to its original grandeur ever since he acquired the space. The space itself is large enough to hold about a hundred people at one time, and is divided into two rooms. One room will feature the bar and will serve light snacks like chips, salads, and sandwiches, while the other will feature the stage and dance floor. As the space has always been a club, the stage offers ample space for performers, and has even hosted performances from legendary musicians like Sting.
While the news of a new jazz club in the neighborhood is incredibly exciting, Room 52 will not be open to the general public, so you will have to book an event of your own if you’d like to check the club out for yourself. If you’re excited about the new club and want to learn more about it, you can visit Room 52’s website or follow them on Instagram @Room52NYC. Room 52 will be open for private bookings starting April 8th, so be sure to book a reservation as soon as you can for your next great event.
