Live At Minton’s, Vol. 1

Arguably, America’s greatest cultural contribution to the world has been jazz. It may be argued with equal force that one of the most important shrines in the history of jazz was Minton’s Playhouse in Harlem. Founded in 1938, Minton’s Playhouse became the setting for a revolution in jazz. Virtually everyone who was anyone in the world of jazz made his or her way to Minton’s during this period. While Minton’s is most famous for the seminal role it played in the Bebop revolution of the 1940s, the club had a vital existence through the early 1960s as a magnet for musicians and continued to operate until 1974, when a fire led to the abandonment of the Cecil Hotel where Minton’s was housed. Now, some 40 years later, Minton’s is back. Minton’s is an ultra-sophisticated jazz supper club that pays homage to its musical heritage with nightly concerts on the venue’s original stage presented by a group of veteran musicians. This recording offers the best of the new Minton’s with live recordings, celebrating its roots with an eye towards the future.