Madrid: Live Music

Yesterday's (20 April 2008) New York Times featured an article in its Travel section entitled " From Jazz to Fusion, Late and Live in Madrid ." The article mentioned a variety of establishments where you can listen to live music. Some venues include: Cafe Central , Populart , La Boca del Lobo , Costello Club , El Sol , Cafe Berlin , Casa Patas , and Moby Dick .

Well I can definitely recommend Populart ! Great live fusion bands combining jazz and blues with flamenco or African rhythms or South American sounds . I've been a few times and it's great . It's small and drinks are predictably expensive . Get there before the act starts or you will NOT get a seat and will have to make do standing at the bar .
Populart is also in the "barrio de las Letras " full of places to eat , drink and be merry ! Some great Flamenco bars there too including " Cardamomo " which has live gypsy flamenco jam sessions on some nights ( I love the place ) ..Steve

Thanks for the link to the article, la historiana. I, too can recommend Populart, been around a long time. Also Casa Patas, though expensive, it is worth it, now I can't wait to try their smaller venue across the street, as mentioned in the article.
These clubs are right up my alley as to new venues to experience whilst in Madrid in the summer.
Anyone care to join me? Say, late July?

Populart is my fauvorite, with any doubt the best atmosphere for jazz, blues, fusion in Madrid. That club is a classic.
There are others places wich are nicer, bigger or wich present more important names and bands but at Populart people really have great fun, me either.
Thanks Historiadora.

Looks like we have a lot of fans of Populart !! Maybe we should organise an evening out there! Steve

I'm in! Late July/all of August!
STeve, will you be around at that time to partake in the festivities?

Also, MM promised we'd plan a get together with MM at that time too!

Please don't leave me all alone in Madrid in the dead heat of August with nothing to do!!!

Amazingly, I have not been to any of these places, but Populart certainly seems to be a good place to try. I may be in Madrid at the end of July, too, so an MM board gathering would be a lot of fun (even if it's not a night time outing but a lunch time comida!)

While I'm not a big jazz fan, I'd go along to Populart in late July when everyone's here. My only concern is that it's HOT and the inside of Populart might be even hotter. Hot conditions and MadridMan don't go together very well.

But regardless, PLAN on a late July gathering so we can join BOTH laduque AND la historiadora - and I'll be there too for sure!

Saludos, MadridMan

Yeah !!! Sounds good ...

I will be in Madrid late July and early August and will certainly be visiting Cafe Central.I go often-good music.Food and drink are ok too.There is usually a cover charge but only 10 -12 euros I think.I will be there next month too,hoping to see the lovely Yoyo Cuesta if the Larry Martin Band makes one of its regular apearances.

Ive been to the http://www.contraclub.es/ a few times once for a funk night and another Flamenco night , both were really good nights its 5e to get in and a drink is included . The flamenco night was really good its a pity it will be a while before i go back

Hi!
Last night I went with two friends to "El Bogui" (metro Chueca). This is a jazz club I didn't know. It was opened in 2005, since then they have been offering great shows.
Yesterday we enjoyed a concert of Bob Sands , a fantastic saxophonist from Manhattan, and its big band (17 musicians on stage). They played some standards and jazz classics.
Among the public at the hall was Jorge Pardo , probably the best flamenco-jazz flutist and saxophonist in Spain. He joined the band and delighted the audience with Bob's flute. Wow!!! It's amazing the way this man plays the flute.

Jorge Pardo will be in concert next thursday the 29th.
Bob Sands big band plays every monday.
Bob Sands Big Band in youtube
Jorge Pardo Trio, Youtube
Jorge Pardo Youtube

Valenciano_en_Madrid ... I went to "El Bogui" last year at the invitation of a friend who performs/composes jazz/fusion here in Madrid . Some friends of hers were playing and we had a great night .
I was a little sceptical because the bar is so new that it didn't "look" like a jazz bar , but what impressed me was how close you are to the performers . I really loved the place :new but very intimate as all jazz venues should be .
We ended up in the back of the performer's car going to another bar at about 2am ... I felt like Jack Kerouac and Neil Cassady from "On the Road " jeje .
Anyway , "El Bogui" definitely comes recommended from me .

Hi Steve!
As you, I also was skeptical about that place but I changed my mind after a couple of songs.

There is another bar wich I want to visit since last saturday evening. It is called Trovadicta in Calle Noviciado 9 (metro Noviciado).
I was walking by the Retiro when I saw a girl playing a guitar and singing. Her voice was lovely. She was performing songs of Silvio Rodriguez and other Southamerican singer-songwriters.
I approached her and she told me about her own club called Trovadicta, where she usually plays among other artists.
Patricia Durán is the name of this very friendly Chilean lady.
Here you have some videos from Youtube:

Ahora que hago contigo (author Silvio Rodriguez)
Mi historia entre tus dedos (author Gianluca Grignani)
Aceitunas (Silvio Rodrigues) playing at the Retiro.