Jazz Has a Home on Tuesdays Nights in the Lark Street Tavern

ALBANY – I had the occasion (with the kind invitation of Perley Rousseau, who was performing there that night) to finally visit the refurbished Lark Street Tavern this past Tuesday evening. It had been on my radar for some time, hosting jazz acts on Tuesday nights, when most of the rest of Nippertown is usually quiet. But I had not yet found my way in there, at least since current owner and noted restauranteur Chris Pratt reopened (and reimagined) it this past March.

It turned out to be a thoroughly enjoyable experience from the minute I walked in. The front bar is still very much a “bar” (in the strict sense of the word), long and narrow, and with a healthy crowd already in place even though the entertainment would not start for more than a half hour. The vibe is very comfortable and welcoming, and I ordered a (well-made) martini before heading into the back room to check out the jazz.

This is where the magic is. If all you have are distant memories of the way the place used to be, you won’t recognize it. The room is now a full-on cocktail lounge, with chairs and couches squared off conversationally, and a row of high two-tops along the wall. It is, as Perley had correctly pointed out to me, a perfect room for jazz. No cover charge for the Tuesday Night jazz series; signs on the wall politely suggest a donation to help keep the series alive, and a basket is put in the middle of the room to collect them. The sound is good, and intimate – making it easy to hear the quietest little flourishes that percussionist Brian Melick unveiled that night. I did not order food, and seemingly was the only one who did not. The dishes I saw looked quite appetizing, and are brought out discreetly to the patrons as the show proceeds.

As for the jazz itself – Sonny and Perley (the night’s entertainment) put on a delightful performance for the Tuesday night crowd, backed by the aforementioned Mr. Melick and Erik Johnson (on bass). I had a commitment that necessitated me to leave early, but when I left, all the seats in the lounge were taken, and the front bar was full as well. This, on what would no doubt otherwise be just another sleepy Tuesday night.

The acts that have been playing here are varied and high-caliber. I would encourage everybody to make a (Tuesday) night of it here – it just might become a habit for you.