Clark Monroe's Uptown House
Encyclopedia
Clark Monroe's Uptown House, sometimes shortened to Monroe's Uptown House or simply Monroe's, was a nightclub
in New York City
. Along with Minton's Playhouse
, it was one of the two principal clubs in the early history of bebop
jazz
.
Clark Monroe opened the Uptown House in the 1930s at 198 West 134th St in Harlem
, in a building which formerly held Barron's Club (where Duke Ellington
worked early in the 1920s) and the Theatrical Grill. From the late 1930s the club presented swing jazz; Billie Holiday
held a residence there for three months in 1937. In the early 1940s the club became known for its jam sessions
, where many of the players involved in the birth of bebop
played together. Al Tinney
led Monroe's house band
, which included Max Roach
, Little Benny Harris, George Treadwell
, and Victor Coulsen
. Charlie Parker
was a featured soloist at the club in 1943.
An important live recording of Charlie Christian
features a jam "session at Monroes".
Monroe moved the club to 52nd Street in 1943, and opened a second club, The Spotlite, in December 1944.
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Along with Minton's Playhouse
Minton's Playhouse
Minton’s Playhouse is a jazz club and bar located on the first floor of the Cecil Hotel at 210 West 118th Street in Harlem. Minton’s was founded by tenor saxophonist Henry Minton in 1938...
, it was one of the two principal clubs in the early history of bebop
Bebop
Bebop differed drastically from the straightforward compositions of the swing era, and was instead characterized by fast tempos, asymmetrical phrasing, intricate melodies, and rhythm sections that expanded on their role as tempo-keepers...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
.
Clark Monroe opened the Uptown House in the 1930s at 198 West 134th St in Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
, in a building which formerly held Barron's Club (where Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
worked early in the 1920s) and the Theatrical Grill. From the late 1930s the club presented swing jazz; Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing...
held a residence there for three months in 1937. In the early 1940s the club became known for its jam sessions
Jam Sessions
Jam Sessions is a guitar simulation software title and music game for the Nintendo DS based on the Japan-only title Sing & Play DS Guitar M-06 originally developed by Plato. It was brought to North America and Europe, courtesy of Ubisoft...
, where many of the players involved in the birth of bebop
Bebop
Bebop differed drastically from the straightforward compositions of the swing era, and was instead characterized by fast tempos, asymmetrical phrasing, intricate melodies, and rhythm sections that expanded on their role as tempo-keepers...
played together. Al Tinney
Al Tinney
Allen "Al" Tinney was an American jazz pianist.Tinney was a child actor on the stage, and was a cast member in the original production of George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess in 1935...
led Monroe's house band
House band
For the British band that existed from 1984-2001, see The House BandA house band is a group of musicians, often centrally organized by a band leader, who regularly play an establishment. It is widely used to refer both to the bands who work on entertainment programs on television or radio, and to...
, which included Max Roach
Max Roach
Maxwell Lemuel "Max" Roach was an American jazz percussionist, drummer, and composer.A pioneer of bebop, Roach went on to work in many other styles of music, and is generally considered alongside the most important drummers in history...
, Little Benny Harris, George Treadwell
George Treadwell
George McKinley Treadwell was an American jazz trumpeter....
, and Victor Coulsen
Victor Coulsen
Victor "Vic" Coulsen was an American jazz trumpeter.Often referred to as Vic Coulsen, Vic Coulson, and even Vic Couslen, Coulsen was a member of the resident band at the Monroe's club, under Al Tinney's direction from as early as 1940....
. Charlie Parker
Charlie Parker
Charles Parker, Jr. , famously called Bird or Yardbird, was an American jazz saxophonist and composer....
was a featured soloist at the club in 1943.
An important live recording of Charlie Christian
Charlie Christian
Charles Henry "Charlie" Christian was an American swing and jazz guitarist.Christian was an important early performer on the electric guitar, and is cited as a key figure in the development of bebop and cool jazz. He gained national exposure as a member of the Benny Goodman Sextet and Orchestra...
features a jam "session at Monroes".
Monroe moved the club to 52nd Street in 1943, and opened a second club, The Spotlite, in December 1944.