The Jazz Gallery In Nomad

Founded in 1995, The Jazz Gallery in NoMad is tucked away Gallery on the 5th floor of an inconspicuous building on 27th and Broadway. The brainchild of Dale Fitzgerald, vocalist Lezlie Harrison, and renowned jazz trumpeter Roy Hargrove, the unique venue is a NoMad hub and a home for the jazz musicians and composers from around the world who come to New York to take part and enhance the city’s vibrant cultural scene.

With tables and chairs scattered between the low-key “does the trick” bar and the stage at the front of the dimly lit room, the interior of The Jazz Gallery is 100% old school New York. On the night we visited, longtime members took their usual seats as the Roy Hargrove Big Band made its way to the front.

Led by one of the founders, The Roy Hargrove Big Band brought the jam-packed room to life from the very first note. The first piece began with two saxophonists who blew the room away with their effortless improvisation. The roughly sixteen-person ensemble filled the space with energy, upbeat music, and thrilling arrangements. The audience had the opportunity to hear from the band leader as well as the CEO of The Jazz Gallery before and during the set, which was also streamed live on radio. The early set lasted about two hours before the audience had to make way for those who were lined up for the 10:30 show. The Roy Hargrove Big Band made their first appearance together at the Greenwich Village Jazz Festival in 1995. Since then, they’ve toured all over the world, playing in clubs like the Blue Note Tokyo and venues like the Hollywood Bowl.

The Jazz Gallery in NoMad is host to over 400 shows a year with 17,000 people making the trip to catch a set from a long list of talented musicians. They have a focus on the younger generation and work to advance musicians just entering the jazz space as they build and curate their own careers. A well-known mentoring program pairs young musicians with seasoned veterans to foster their talent. The Jazz Gallery also hosts debut series, residencies and fellowship opportunities, along with The Woodshed, which provides free rehearsal space to jazz artists.

You can catch top tier, intimate concerts at The Jazz Gallery in NoMad by purchasing tickets on jazzgallery.org.