Smoke (jazz club)

Smoke occupies the space formerly known as Augie’s Jazz Bar. A native of the former West Berlin, Germany, Paul Stache worked at Augie’s as a server and bartender after moving into New York City.[3] When owner Augusto “Gus” Cuartas closed the club in 1998, Stache and Christopher partnered to take over the venue. Stache and Johnson assumed ownership of the club in 2019.[3]

Smoke opened on April 9, 1999 with an inaugural performance by saxophonist George Coleman’s Quartet featuring pianist Harold Mabern.[3] Both artists helped define the Smoke sound and became frequent performers at the club. Mabern asserted that “Smoke is the greatest jazz club in the world.” Smoke’s name was inspired by writer Paul Auster who based his character Auggie Wren on Cuartas. Harvey Keitel portrayed Auggie in the 1995 film Smoke, the title of which gave the club its name.[4]

Artists who have performed at the club include Wynton Marsalis, Ron Carter, Benny Golson, Hank Jones, Christian McBride, Brad Mehldau, Larry Goldings, Chris Potter, Tom Harrell, Cecil Payne, Cedar Walton, Steve Turre, Eric Alexander, Bill Charlap, Jimmy Cobb, Charles Earland, Nicholas Payton, Peter Bernstein, Eddie Henderson and others.[4][5]

During the COVID-19 pandemic Stache and Johnson launched a series of livestream concerts, Smoke Screens, and undertook a renovation that expanded the club into two small neighboring spaces.[3]

After recording and producing several recordings for artists and labels at Smoke, Stache was encouraged to launch an affiliated record label, Smoke Sessions Records in 2014. Early releases continued to be recorded live on stage at Smoke, but the label’s output soon expanded to include studio recordings.[6] Smoke Sessions has garnered two Grammy Award nominations for releases by pianist Orrin Evans' Captain Black Big Band.[7]

Smoke Sessions has released albums by Harold Mabern, Nicholas Payton, Peter Bernstein, Renee Rosnes, Eddie Henderson, George Coleman, Bobby Watson, Steve Davis, The Cookers, Cyrus Chestnut, Larry Goldings, Wayne Escoffery, Gary Bartz, Jimmy Cobb, Mary Stallings, Al Foster, Buster Williams, Vincent Herring and others.[8]

From 1986 to 1997, the current Birdland — now located on West 44th Street — was located at 2745 Broadway, on the same block, same side of the street, 3 doors south of Augie's. Cleopatra's Needle is fourteen blocks south of Smoke, at 2485 Broadway. Jazz at Lincoln Center is at Broadway and 60th Street (1.9 miles). Juilliard is at Broadway and 66th Street. The Manhattan School of Music is 15 blocks north of Smoke. Miller Theatre at Columbia University is 11 blocks north, on Broadway. Symphony Space, a venue for film and the performing arts, hosts jazz events, regularly. Symphony Space is 9 blocks south of Smoke, on Broadway. Harlem is contiguously north and west of Morningside Heights. Harlem jazz clubs include the Lenox Lounge (closed in 2012, demolished 2017), Minton's Playhouse, St. Nick's Pub, the Apollo Theater, Showman's (375 W. 125th), Bill's Place (148 W. 133), Ginny's Supper Club at the Red Rooster, the Harlem Tavern, Jazz Mobile, the National Jazz Museum in Harlem, Londel's Restaurant, and the New Amsterdam Musical Association.

• List of supper clubs