What a wonderful tour of Harlem! Our tour guide Carolyn was great to work with from start to finish. She has a true passion for Harlem and a wealth of knowledge of its rich history. She customized the tour based entirely on our needs and warmly welcomed our group of 22 around Harlem through 90+ degree temperatures and even a sudden downpour. She answered our many questions and ensured we walked away from the tour both enlightened and inspired. I highly recommend Welcome to Harlem for your tour needs.
Harlem Afternoon Jazz Tour
Live Harlem jazz concert!
Combine with historical walking tour
Passionate, friendly guides
Discover why thousands of visitors flock to Harlem to hear live jazz
Harlem is the birthplace of jazz as we know it today! On this tour, you’ll experience and hear the soulful music that Harlem is world-famous for Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, and many other household names still have their music echoing throughout the city as performers pay tribute to these greats every day. What are you waiting for?
Highlights
Live jazz concert, artistically directed by Craig Harris — a trombonist, composer, and longtime Harlem resident
Spend your Tuesday afternoon surrounded by cool jazz vibes
Our tour guides are locals who are friendly, passionate, and knowledgeable about their community
Visit the elegant Alhambra Ballroom and learn about its history
Enjoy a brief walk in the Mount Morris Park Historic District
Visit Hotel Theresa, a vibrant mid-20th century center of African-American life
Click the tabs to find out more
Trip Details
The specifics
Price (USD)
$60 per person
Start time
10:30 AM
Meeting point
Apollo Theater, 253 West 125th Street, New York, NY 10027
Availability
Tuesdays, April – December
Exceptions: December 24-25, December 31-January 1
Duration
2.5 hours
Group size
Maximum 30
Included
Historical walking tour, live jazz concert
Not included
Transportation, lunch
What to bring
Please wear comfortable walking shoes, bring an open mind and heart, camera, and a smile on your face
Good to know
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm – Live jazz concert
Tours must be booked at least 24 hours in advance.
What you'll do
Harlem — the birthplace of modern jazz. Each year, thousands of visitors and tourists flock to Harlem clubs, seeking the experience of hearing the soulful music that Harlem has come to be known for. No more waiting for the lights to go down to enjoy the soulful immortal sounds and rhythms of Duke Ellington, Lena Horne, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, and more. Their voices and riffs live on throughout the city as performers pay tribute to these greats every night.
Every Tuesday afternoon, Harlem plays host to some of today’s most talented jazz musicians and history’s most celebrated jazz music in a musical tribute of epic proportions. Concertgoers will spend each Tuesday afternoon surrounded by the cool vibrations of jazz as they are soothed and invigorated by seemingly magical strings and horns. This is an event for all of the senses, and it is meant to be both mentally and spiritually uplifting.
The series is artistically directed by Craig Harris, a trombonist, composer and long-time Harlem resident. Harris has been a major figure in the Harlem jazz scene since 1976. He has performed throughout the USA and abroad with some of the genre’s most important figures.
Enjoy a tour across 125th Street, then a lovely stroll along Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. to the Mount Morris Park Historic District area. Then sit back, relax and enjoy a live Harlem jazz concert. You’re guaranteed to consider the occasion as one of your favorite afternoons out, so take the A train to 125th Street and get the party started.
The upcoming schedule of performers can be found on our calendar on the homepage. If you’d rather just enjoy the concert without the tour addition, tickets are available for purchase separately. Please note – there is one set and it begins at 12pm.
Check out what our guests are saying
The highlight of our visit to New York! The best experience ever! True and pure sentiment and soul! Even our teenage son enjoyed it.
Amazing experience. Money well spent. Would recommend to anyone looking to learn more about Harlem.
