Mona’s Hot Four Jams Tuesday Night Jazz Until the Sun Comes Up

Photo by Eduardo Pavon

If you’re not familiar with old time jazz, you’re still very likely to get a listen on TV shows and movies like Boardwalk Empire or The Untouchables. On the other hand, there’s something very cliched about the jazz band powering up to let us know that it’s the roaring twenties, and the speakeasy is about to be raided. So much so that you almost want the music to stop. But the Jazz Jam at Mona’s Bar N.Y.C. at 224 Avenue B actually brings you back, and the only draw back has nothing to do with the music feeling like old hat.

Unfortunately, the sun comes up.

Yes, the revelry starts to unwind as the rest of the world is gearing up for the next day. 12 years running now, Tuesday at Mona’s actually began on a Monday in 2007.

A traditional Irish music jam ran for many years, and one night they finished up early. “I was there with some friends, and the Irish musicians asked us if wanted to play some jazz tunes,” said Dennis Lichtman, who takes the reins of Mona’s Hot Four every Tuesday.

The bartender liked what he heard and Lichtman has led ever since. “We start at a loose 11pm,” said Lichtman.

In other words, the music starts slow, and the party doesn't really start to pop until well after midnight. So there’s no big flashy light or formalities to give the evening a kick.

Dennis pulls out his clarinet, his cohorts follow, and 224 begins to sway. The tight corner that the musicians occupy next to the bar is also absent any pretension and almost makes the audience an extension of the performance.

But the jammed in feeling doesn't detract, according to one long time instrumentalist. “The corner is very important to me,” said John Bailey. “There's just something about it that I cannot explain.”

It may have something to do with the fluid nature of the rotation. “Musicians all of a sudden come in and just join in,” said long time listener Silvia Bovientura.

Silvia’s estimation was no exaggeration either. Several songs into the open, a middle-aged bass player - who looked like he has been around the avenue - unzipped his oversized axe and twanged right in.

Brian Nalepka actually seemed a little off key to start, but the abrupt introduction sounded more like an inside joke. Happily ready to roll until daylight, everybody in attendance got the message and didn’t miss a beat.

The sentiment spoke directly to the whole vibe, and the late start only serves to double down for the mainstays in attendance. “If this started at 9 O’Clock, it would be so much different,” said H. Berman. “Instead, it’s like we have our own private little club.”

Set up every Tuesday for the last 12 years, Berman always takes Wednesday off and loves how exclusive membership leaves his wallet intact. “At more mainstream jazz events, you drop $40 or $50 before the event even begins,” Berman asserted.

The musical upside rises above too as the festivities turn the corner around one. “It feels like the roof is going to blow off,” said Berman.

For Blues singer Mara Kaye that means the lid comes off as area musicians come from their gigs and make it a gathering. “The horns, guitar, keyboard and drummers all crowd around the bandstand,” Kaye said.

Although Kaye came in with her soothing vocals to play the calm before the storm. Adding two numbers to this evening, Tuesday is her favorite night of the week. “We are all working musicians,” she said. “We get to see each other and honor the music we love.”

Of course, the real amore kicks in with the uptempo, and the elevated pitch of Lichtman’s clarinet is unmistakable. “The clarinet plays backup really well, but it can also wail the higher notes and lead the charge,” said Lichtman.

No synergy is sacrificed either as the keyboards no longer get a massage, and the strings keep pace with the precision banging. Throw in a fiddle or two, a perfect indulgence of brass and vocals are strong enough to stay in the mix, and the sway goes into full swing.

But for as much as the the audience get its share, Lichtman relishes the roll call “It’s just one player after another, and overtime as I look up, there might be three monster players walking in,” said Lichtman.

So far that certainly hasn’t scared off Silvia Bovientura, and the music she has learned to love has actually become a way of life. “Tuesday Nights is one of the reasons I live in this neighborhood,” concluded Bovientura.

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