If you had a chance to go there you might have rubbed shoulders with the likes of James Baldwin, Amiri Baraka, or Toni Mossison. All hip. That's the type of crowd you'd expect at Mikell's, a hot spot that was located on the corner of 97th & Columbus.
Mikell's opened in 1969, and closed in 1991. It's owner was Mike Mikell, who died in 2005. It's gone now, but in the seventies and eighties Mikell's was a happen' place for some of New York's best session and studio musicians who would drop in to jam. Art Blakey would rehearse and record there with the Jazz Messengers. Other frequent notables included Milt Jackson, Ray Brown, and Cedar Walton.
I remember being there on one occaission when Hugh Masekela
almost blew the roof off the room. It was SRO, and I don't think sitting was even an option as the room was pulsating on a night that I remember like it was last night.
But, sadly, Mikell's is gone. Gone the way of other New York Jazz venues, such as Slugs, Port of Call East, and The Lennox Lounge.
Great memories, though.
Mikell's opened in 1969, and closed in 1991. It's owner was Mike Mikell, who died in 2005. It's gone now, but in the seventies and eighties Mikell's was a happen' place for some of New York's best session and studio musicians who would drop in to jam. Art Blakey would rehearse and record there with the Jazz Messengers. Other frequent notables included Milt Jackson, Ray Brown, and Cedar Walton.
I remember being there on one occaission when Hugh Masekela
almost blew the roof off the room. It was SRO, and I don't think sitting was even an option as the room was pulsating on a night that I remember like it was last night.
But, sadly, Mikell's is gone. Gone the way of other New York Jazz venues, such as Slugs, Port of Call East, and The Lennox Lounge.
Great memories, though.
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