Greenwich Village’s Blue Note glowed today as the NYC Winter Jazz Series launched. Over 500 packed the club—Wynton Marsalis’ quintet jammed for 2 hours; X clips hit 5,000. A Brooklyn pianist’s opening set—$15 tickets sold out—stole hearts. $10 hot toddies warmed 200; 28°F night buzzed. NYC’s music—Village swings.
Organizer Jamal Reed, 48, booked 10 venues—month-long series. Marsalis’ ‘Black Codes’ riff—crowd stood mid-song; 300 clapped. Free improv workshops at Washington Square drew 100; teens learned chords. Local cafés sold $5 pastries—150 gone. Blue Note’s vibe—NYC’s jazz heart.
It’s not flawless—sound glitched; mics buzzed once. Seats tight—elbows bumped in back. Still, 500 fans, 3 encores—opener’s a hit. Post-show, Bleecker Street buzzed—music talk flowed. Runs till February—NYC grooves.
Reed’s 48—jazz guru? Pianist’s 26—rising star. Village swung; NYC glowed. Jazz Series—note on.