Bill's Place on Swing Street

On West 133rd Street, the Prohibition-era block once called Swing Street, saxophonist Bill Saxton runs a jazz room in the ground floor of a brownstone. Saxton was born in Harlem and has been playing professionally since the 1960s; on weekends he leads the Harlem All-Stars a few feet from a couple of dozen seats. The building's earlier life as a speakeasy and supper club is part of the evening, and Saxton often talks through the block's history between tunes.

Shows run on Friday and Saturday nights with two seatings, and you buy tickets through the club's website; seating is very limited, so book ahead. Check the site's FAQ for the current drinks policy before you go, as it has long been BYOB. Arrive on time, since the room fills before the downbeat. It is one of the few places in Harlem where you can hear straight-ahead jazz in the kind of room it was once played in.