Richie Cannata's Monday Night Jam
The Bitter End147 Bleecker Street, New York 10012
Richie Cannata’s Monday Night Jam comes to The Bitter End as an open jam session rather than a fixed-band date. Cannata leads the night, with musicians sitting in and the lineup for December 21 not specified in advance. Expect a set shaped by the players who join him, under the banner of Cannata’s long-running Monday jam. The evening is all ages, with venue entry requirements applying to younger attendees and bar-stool purchasers.
Cannata is a New Yorker who was born and raised in Brooklyn before moving to Long Island. A saxophonist and keyboardist, he spent six years playing in Billy Joel’s band and has also worked with Celine Dion, Jennifer Lopez, the Beach Boys and Bernie Williams. One report calls him a “Legendary Sax player,” while another characterizes the Monday session as a “Pro Jam” whose standard is “incredibly high.” A source says the jam draws “some of the finest talent anywhere,” which fits a night built around sit-ins rather than a pre-announced regular formation.
The Bitter End has been a fixture of Greenwich Village since 1961, known as one of New York City's oldest rock clubs. It's a modest basement club with a stage and a bar, where the audience sits close to the performers. The room has exposed brick walls and a rustic feel, and the atmosphere is warm and conversational. Shows are typically ticketed with a small cover charge, and the evening combines listening to live music with casual conversation and drinks. The venue has hosted legends like Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell, and continues to be a place where songwriters and musicians share new material. It's a steady, reliable spot for live music in the city.