Break Away, Close and Far – Jazz & Childfreedom
In a social environment where nearly everything is child-centric – are even sushi restaurants safe anymore? – the demand for childfree venues continues to grow. Childfree people are prepared to pay for a getaway that includes peace and quiet, as well as decadence. And, of course, that features a lack of children. However, does such a getaway exist these days?
The answer – yes. Look no further than a jazz club.
Once, the words ‘jazz club’ would likely be associated with a dark, smoky little speakeasy, with illegal liquor and the records of Billie Holiday and Duke Ellington over the gramophone. Liquor is no longer illegal, but the mystique of music in a dark room remains. And it also happens to be a place where children are rarely found.
A good example of a modern jazz club is New York’s Cutting Room. The dark wood tones and the dim lighting send the message that this is an oasis where children do not roam free. I became a regular there simply because of that fact. The only times that I saw children were when their parents were the evening’s performers. However, in those few cases, the children were past the run-and-screech age.
One of the most notable New York clubs is the Blue Note, located in the West Village. The artists and their styles vary from Chuck Loeb’s sleek, intricate guitar to the Spanish Harlem Orchestra’s big-band renditions. The notable special of the Blue Note is the Sunday brunch, where $24.50 buys the meal, the show, and a drink. The music that goes along with the brunch is varied, from vocal artist Lizz Fields to ensembles like the Juilliard Jazz Band.
If you’re already an aficionado of jazz, taking the next step – a jazz cruise – is a great idea. One cruise is the Smooth Music Cruise . Offered annually, it features tropical ports-of-call and the opportunity to mingle with the people behind the music. However, without the mystique of the bar-and-music scenario, one must ask the question: how childfree is this vacation?
If you disregard the musicians’ children – the cruise invitations extend to families of the artists – then the answer is “very.” On my cruise, I counted no more than seven children on a ship that held well over 900 passengers. In most cases, an adult was present to keep the kids in line, which made it easy to tune them out.
The music definitely adds to the ‘getaway’ factor of such a vacation. The musicians all arrive with their unique styles and accomplishments. Talent is everywhere, from Mindi Abair on her saxophone to seasoned veteran Larry Carlton’s riffs on his sleek guitar.
Jazz cruises are offered through Jazz Cruises, LLC. “Dave Koz & Friends features stops in Cabo San Lucas and Cozumel with an artist lineup that includes Wayman Tisdale and Euge Groove. The Playboy Cruise makes stops at San Juan and St. Barth’s and, in the past, has had Herbie Hancock aboard as a special guest. Additionally, there is the Smooth Music Cruise, offered by Haven Entertainment that highlightsthe talents of Boney James and Nick Colionne and stops at ports of call in Key West and the Bahamas. The ports of call are rotated annually, so you can take the same cruise multiple times but never hit the same port twice.
Enjoying a variety of music for a week on a ship with few children makes a jazz cruise a great time to soothe the childfree music lover’s soul.
Not to mention, it’s a hell of a vacation.
Copyright Katharine Wyse. Published 1 March 2009 in The Zone.
Reader comments
Commenting is closed for this article.