The Upper East Side has an impeccable reputation for fine dining and drinking, yet its sheer musicality is sometimes overlooked. Here, we take in some tunes at the Upper East Side’s smoothest music venues.
Session 73
Located on 1359 First Ave, Session 73 is a great venue for live music. In fact, walk in any day of the week, and you’ll catch something to tickle your eardrums. Folks here are partial to classic guitar rock; that might mean a blistering set from Cocky Sparrows (who cover the likes of The Rolling Stones and Led Zep) to Late Night Alibi (they cover songs that may well be alien to your iPod). Things get funky at Session 73 with outfits like Cameron Heart Duo, and there are more sultry, soulful sets from songstress Kacie Devany and Alex and Ricky Duo. Happy hour from Monday to Friday, and Salsa Night Mondays provide further incentive to check out this rocking UES venue, just a few blocks away from the luxury condominium residences at 737 Park Avenue.
92nd Street Y
The 92nd Street Y, or 92Y for short, isn’t just a music venue – it’s a fountain of culture for the Upper East Side featuring comedy, theater, talks, dance, films, art exhibitions and more. Among names who’ve appeared on stage here are Larry David, Truman Capote, Edward Albee, Bill Clinton, Patti Smith, Chick Corea, Martha Graham and Norman Mailer. Those specifically seeking music won’t be let down; 92nd Street Y showcases timeless jazz, classical concerts, and specialist shows like High School Guitar Day and Baby Got Back. 92Y is perfect for anyone who likes their music served cool and cultural.
Brandy’s Piano Bar
The critics are ebullient with praise for Brandy’s Piano Bar, on 235 East 84th street. The intimate space is regularly lauded for its welcoming wait staff, who warm up the crowd before every piano performance, getting them in the spirit for a sing-a-long. Brandy’s has been going for 30-odd years now, and clearly knows how to delight. An impressive roster of resident entertainers bring the roof down every evening from 9:30 till 3, and the atmosphere is one of the bubbliest in all of Manhattan. Get started at the bar early: Happy Hour is from 4-8pm.
Café Carlyle
You can relive the golden age of cabaret any night of the week at Café Carlyle. Reclining with fine food and vintage wines – and with music-themed wall murals by Marcel Vertès as a backdrop – audience members are treated to top-class performances from the likes of Judy Collins, Sutton Foster, and Steve Tyrell. Jazz is the Carlyle’s genre of choice (there are regular performances by the Eddy Davis New Orleans Jazz Band and Woody Allen), but there are also special shows from artists such as the Tony-winning Tommy Tune. For Upper East Side residents, such as those who reside at 737 Park Avenue, Café Carlyle promises to be a convenient, worthwhile option.
Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College
The calendar of the Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College is brimming with dance and theater, but there’s a generous sprinkling of live music, too. Of the Kaye’s 200 or so annual events, many include contemporary-classical, opera and jazz. Regina Resnik, Marcel Marceau, Ruby Dee, Philip Glass, Audra MacDonald, Max Roach, Mario Vargas Llosa, Rosemary Harris and Harold Bloom have appeared on stage at the Kaye in past years, each stamping their seal of approval on this much-loved Upper East Side venue.
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