One of my three favorite jazz clubs in the world.
Alexanderplatz is extremely eclectic in the styles of jazz it programs.
But the Italian jazz scene is one of the best in Europe.
There are a lot of classically trained musicians who have become superlative jazz artists.
Alexanderplatz programs everything from traditional cocktail lounge swing to post-free-jazz abrasive to experimental European style electronic new age/jazz complex fusion.
The third style is one we don't have much of in the U.S.
We have the first two styles plus Marsalis family style neobop plus Brooklyn non-genre.
Every session we have heard has been absolutely positively superlative.
They break new frontiers on the innovative stuff and demonstrate superlative craftsmanship on the traditional stuff.
Most other jazz clubs have good nights and bad nights.
You can run into mediocre student wannabes and washed up old f**ts.
None of those D-listers will show up on the stage at Alexanderplatz.
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Another plus for Alexanderplatz:
The room is extremely atmospheric.
You go down a winding and almost-dangerous staircase into a basement.
The basement is brightly colored and has jazz paraphernalia everywhere.
It also has a balcony and archways which is not typical basement stuff.
It makes the scene totally magical when you are down there.
* * *
The bar is the only weak point of this otherwise fantastic club.
There is a very limited selection. The bottles are not always that great.
Worse.
You pay at the end.
Everyone shows up in a huge traffic jam at the bar to pay with only one cashier taking money.
The line runs long.
It is a jazz club so it runs late.
Whether or not you will make your bus is an open and interesting question.
My tip is to pay right after you get your drink.
You leave when the music is over and everything is fine.
* * *
But musically - this place is pure awesomeness on a stick.
If you like any kind of jazz, and are willing to hear jazz in all of its forms, you really need to make a point to come here.
If you like one and only one kind of jazz only,
Pretest the artists before you book.
But I would still say come anyway.
The artists of your "not-my-genre" may get you to change your mind. read more