For all the time I spend in NYC, last night was the very first time I’ve seen Jazz at Lincoln Center, at it’s “new” $128M home, the Time Warner building, at Columbus Circle.
The center moved here in 2004 from its digs a little further north, and, let me tell you, it is a terrific venue for music. Definitely worth the trip for tourists visiting Times Square for a show.
The mid-sized Allen Room is an intimate venue (less than 500 seats) where the audience faces a four-story wall of glass that gives you a 6th floor view out into the city, overlooking Central Park. It’s one of the most amazing backdrops for a concert you’ll ever see. Last night, the city lights lit up a bank of fog sitting up near the tops of the buildings. The reflected lights of the cars on Central Park South looked like raindrops cascading down the glass. And the big CNN neon sign cast red light down onto the stage. Wow.
And, and insider tip: get yourself a seat in row C, which puts you eye-level with the musicians. And sit back and enjoy.