Ya like Jazz?
Sometimes the best things in life are the ones that you just happen to stumble upon without much thought.
People love to say New York is dead and typically I’d be inclined to agree, but there are moments when this city reveals itself to you in its purest nature; an indelible force defined by the spirit of spontaneity and discovery. You don’t go out looking for these experiences, for that is a slap in the face of destiny. These experiences come looking for you, with an enticing allure akin to a siren’s song. Ironically, this call to exploration is what led us to the Lost and Found.
The Lost and Found is a bar on 8th avenue between West 28th and West 29th. It’s in an unassuming spot, out of the path of a tourist who’s more likely to walk down 7th or 11th, and too close to midtown for an audience who consider themselves caviar but actually taste of tuna.
When walking back towards Hell’s Kitchen from school one day, we saw a chalky sign outside the bar advertising free jazz on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Naturally, we decided to stroll on in later that night and check it out. We’re the music guys what else would you expect of us? We’ve lost recipes in this country and I firmly believe quality of life improves with a glass of whiskey and some jazz.
It makes it a lot easier to unwind and feel human again, a large reason why we elect to frequent here most Tuesday nights.
The bar itself feels like a twilight zone of sorts. Like something out of a David Lynch movie (can you tell our editor loves Lynch), it’s homely, slightly unsettling, and the type of place you would find yourself in a dream after ingesting too much NightQuil. It was previously a cafe and still has remnants of its past, such as an old menu up on the wall across the bar with items under a dollar (doesn’t that sound nice) and a picture of its original owners sitting outside below.
It exudes the vibe of a well done basement bar, the kind your uncle would spruce up after receiving a large cash settlement. Featuring various woody accents and a dusty red that is consistent throughout the seating, there is a vintage charm that doesn’t scream curation, rather whispering “no renovation”. It seems like they position themselves as a cocktail bar, but I think that’s just because they don’t wanna invest in taps. Don’t be mistaken though, we wouldn’t return if we didn’t enjoy this place. The bartenders are accommodating, the cocktails are decent, and they’ll even make you a plate of dinosaur chicken nuggeta for a cool $6. Where else in this city can you listen to great jazz while dual wielding dino nuggets and a G&T ? Now that’s baller.
While music is the main event here, what really captivates us are the players themselves. There is a community present each week consisting of musicians of all ages and skill levels, coming from many different walks of life that happen to intersect here at The Lost and Found.
We’re usually the only young people spectating (and the only who can’t play an instrument), so we’re very much outsiders in this room. It feels like peaking in on a special moment, providing a spice of life that most people chase in search of a greater dopamine rush than their feed can provide. What they have here is quite beautiful, as you never know who’s gonna get up from the bar and surprise you with smoky jazz vocals or a wicked trumpet solo, creating a sense of great anticipation between sets.
If you’re wondering where the sweet band kid from high school is, he’s probably at the Lost and Found sharing a ginger ale with his contemporaries. We’ve met a few lovely souls at these Jazz nights who devote their entire lives to the music, and the duality of attitude between these guys and our regular crowd is super refreshing. They let the music speak for itself: No gimmicks, no Hedi, no egos. Not too mention, they all carry a unique brand of swagger that only an astute jazz player in his church suit could pull off. While there are bouts of social awkwardness, these guys could definitely pull but it seems like they’re married to the music instead which I highly respect. Sometimes it feels like we’re not worthy of their presence, as we desecrate the purity of the night by taking turns with a bottle of poppers like a couple of degenerates. It just so happens that Jazz and poppers are a fantastic combo, but I digress. It’s a wholesome environment and we’re lucky enough to be welcomed with open arms despite being complete outsiders amongst an established community.
We took a little footage of the last Jazz night we attended, so sit back, get cozy, and enjoy the soulfulness. New York is still kicking, you just have to get off your phone and take a chance on something. The same could be said about life itself, but that’s a different story for another day. Today is for joy (and if you happen to be looking for joy on any random Tuesday or Thursday, definitely check out The Lost and Found. It’s worth it).
Merry Christmas, XOXO, Love from Nothing Radio.