Smalls Jazz Club Live Stream

Smalls, like others, have been hit hard by the pandemic. This recent newsletter/update is from Saturday 20 March. They have done everthing to try and keep Smalls alive.


Dear SmallsLIVE Supporters:

Many have noticed that we have had no live stream during the last few days and that our website’s calendar is blank. I apologize that it’s taken me until now to inform everyone as to the situation. I want to preface everything by saying that it is on the strength of our supporting members that we have managed to stay afloat during the more than one-year of the COVID lockdown. I am grateful to the passion and faith of those that care about Smalls and our music.

Smalls Jazz Club was reported anonymously to the State Liquor Authority to the effect we were breaking COVID rules. The rule we were specifically breaking was the SLA’s rule that no venue was allowed to advertise or ticket a musical event. This is a law specific to New York State and is a controversial one. It was actually not widely reported on but here is an article that came out around the time the rule was enacted last year CLICK FOR LINK. This rule caused controversy and was ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge CLICK FOR LINK. This rule was relaxed for the entire state with the exception of New York City, where it remains in effect. The person who complained to the SLA knew well about this rule and pointed it out specifically in their anonymous report. An inspector from the SLA and two undercover police officers came to our venue on two occasions. They were rudely mannered and disrespectful to my mangers and myself. They pointed out many little infractions that were non-COVID related. They pointed out that our food menu was inadequate. This is also a new rule of the SLA, that bars must serve “substantial food” with any alcoholic beverage. We’ve never had to do this in the past. Smalls is a tavern license with no kitchen. We turned to our local sandwich shop to cater for our shows in order that we could serve food but this wasn’t considered enough. The SLA insisted we were a restaurant. They also made observations about our tight spacing, masks and the usual COVID precautions. Those of you who know me know that we have done everything we can to facilitate safety for our patrons. There has not been a lot of guidance in this matter and we’ve had to feel our way along. We have been using temperature checks, log books, masks, gloves, dividers, HEPA filters and ultra-violet lights as well as a 25% capacity. The sheriff's department, which had come by the place a week before, found us COVID compliant. The SLA did not.

Of course, the big infraction was the fact that we advertised shows (i.e. our website) and that we had tickets. Our problem, of course, is that we really have no other method of operation except this one. We can’t seat on the street. We really don’t have a kitchen. We are known, for the last 25 years, as a place for live music. The inspector was merciless and fast tracked us to a secret hearing of the SLA commission to vote on summarily suspending our license. We were not informed of this hearing and not allowed to defend ourselves. This was an execution ground for bars that were to be terminated by the SLA one after the other. Ours was the last bar on the agenda. By some miracle (and our attorney said that they had “never seen this before”), two of the three commissioners voted not to terminate. I am not clear why we were spared but I’d like to believe that they knew who we were and didn’t want to extinguish a cultural institution. We will still get fined and probably significantly but Smalls will live to see another day.

I don’t want to comment on the anonymous nature of the complaints or of someone’s desire to destroy our club. New York has changed inexorably. This is a new climate and one of fear and lack of good information. People are understandably scared and, by us trying to go back to even a limited version of normal, it was too much of a threat. I contend that music and social gatherings are critical for the health of the society. At Smalls we do not flaunt rules. COVID has taken my father and is very personal for me – I do not take it lightly. But I must stand by Smalls and our right to present music and to support what remains of the jazz music community in this city. Day by day we soldier on. I intend to begin our live stream next week from a closed club, just as we did last year when we were locked down. I look and pray for a time when this crisis has passed and that the people can feel safe enough to come into our basement and enjoy the best that this culture has to offer.

Once again, I thank everyone for their support and pertinence.

Spike

"Spike" writes that "I contend that music and social gatherings are critical for the health of the society." With the situation such as it is in New York City, it seems clear that "social gatherings" were/are not critical for the health of the people who die(d) because of them. Haven't we had enough suffering and death? Many musicians have shown that live streaming can be an alternative to "social gatherings," at least until the pandemic is better brought under control.  That being said, we are of course deeply sorry for your own losses.

If you have ever been in Smalls or it’s sister jazz club Mezzrow, you would realize that here is no room for a kitchen without sacrificing seating. The city officials need to be run out of town for shutting them down.

Your comment was fine Doom Girl. I just think that Smalls have been unfairly treated by [expletives] that work for the city. I've been getting regular emails from Smalls. They've been closed a lot of the time and only streaming. Musicians, depending on the instruments they play, have been wearing masks. They've had limited capacity, I think it was 15 people max in the club(?) at some points during this pandemic.

Have a close look around the supermarket the next time you go and compare that to what Smalls have been through. Supermarkets I've been to have zero social distancing. Just take a closer look...

If you become a donor through a monthly subscription, you can watch any of the videos or hear the audio only (from shows before they set up cameras) on demand from Smalls. The plan was to make the same offer for Mezzrow, the club a block away, according to Spike Wilner when I chatted with him during a 2019 visit to that club, but it hasn't happened as yet.

Those in the US will get a tax deductible donor receipt, though I can't say that there is a tax benefit for listeners outside of the US.

Check out both clubs in person when you visit NYC. Mezzrow is absolutely the best room for intimate listening in the city.