There's nothing wrong with the Big Apple -- If you can make it there, etc. But if you live in New Jersey, there are some advantages to live music entertainment in the Big Blueberry (yes - that's the NJ State official fruit). No bus ticket. No bridge or tunnel toll. No parking garage. No $90 meal. No $250 show ticket. No hour and a half to get home when it's all over. And the music is performed by the same folks you'd travel to see in NY.
My tastes run to music that allows me to have a conversation with my dinner mates at a quiet speaking volume. That kind of eliminates places dominated by big screen TVs. But no matter, there are acoustic gems amongst all that noise.
On alternate Monday nights, for the price of a diner meal, I get an hour and a half of seriously good live jazz, funk and standards at Parkwood Diner in Maplewood. Every Tuesday evening there is fantastic soft jazz guitar, usually with keyboard or standing bass, at CQ (Classic Quiche Cafe) in Teaneck; they also have a weekly jazz jam and other special events in the back room. Trend Coffee & Tea House in Montclair is all about live music, and they've got some amazing performers who entertain you while you relax on a couch eating cheesecake and sipping specialty coffee. Tierney’s in Montclair has an acoustic night in the upper room, and Hat City Kitchen in Orange has some acoustic and jazz evenings. There are really special events, too, like a songwriter series that showcases vocational and avocational songwriter-performers -- musicians who tour with well-known bands and appear on big stages -- who perform locally in Music Made in New Jersey concerts in Montclair.
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A wonderful gem to help find live music near you is a FB page called Local Spread to Live Music Events. If you’re not on in FB, you can look at their web site: Localspreadlive.com. It has an extensive listing of live music events by day and time. There's lots of outstanding music made by 100% Jersey musicians in casual, modestly priced, easy-going venues. But it's not always easy to find out about these places. So when you find a gem, share the information. Tell -- better yet, take -- your friends. Keep it live and local.
