Londel’s, a classy supper club/bar featuring continental, Cajun, and traditional Southern cuisine in the historic Striver’s Row section of Harlem, has presented swinging music to its patrons since 1994. Named after its owner, Londel Davis, Londel's features live jazz from 8pm-11pm every Friday and Saturday evening.
In October 2006, the restaurant featured several jazz groups, led variously by drummer Towner Galaher, trumpeter Naazir, and jazz and classical pianist Hiromi Kasuga, closing out the month with a special showcase by organist Jimmy “Preacher” Robins, a stirring entertainer with stellar Harlem creds--for years he’s been one of the most popular musicians at several Harlem clubs, including Showman’s.
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Londel’s, a classy supper club/bar featuring continental, Cajun, and traditional Southern cuisine in the historic Striver’s Row section of Harlem, has presented swinging music to its patrons since 1994. Named after its owner, Londel Davis, Londel's features live jazz from 8pm-11pm every Friday and Saturday evening.
In October 2006, the restaurant featured several jazz groups, led variously by drummer Towner Galaher, trumpeter Naazir, and jazz and classical pianist Hiromi Kasuga, closing out the month with a special showcase by organist Jimmy “Preacher” Robins, a stirring entertainer with stellar Harlem creds--for years he’s been one of the most popular musicians at several Harlem clubs, including Showman’s.
The walls facing and astride the bar are replete with photos of VIPs and celebrities accompanied by Londel himself: from Wynton Marsalis, Roy Ayers, Bobbi Humphrey, Max Roach, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, and Luther Vandross to Ed Bradley, Ted Turner, President Bill Clinton, Henry Kissinger, David Dinkins, Maya Angelou and NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg to name but a few.
Londel is a tall man of distinguished bearing, close-cropped white beard, and ever-present bow-tie, always clean and dressed to the nines. The Harlem native is a former police officer (retired in 1981) who began preparing for his current entrepreneurial role at the helm of a fine dining establishment in high school (for several years he attended the Food Trades High School). When asked why he launched Londel’s Supper Club, his sly reply belied his conservative deportment: “I’m a Gemini. I’m crazy.” Perhaps like a fox, since his venue is highly respected uptown, not to mention known across the country. “Gemini people tend to be very spontaneous.” But he had practice in the food industry woodshed back in the mid-80s with a take-out spot on 135th and Eighth Avenue called Deli Heaven. He then opened up a barbershop in the same location where today Londel’s stands. After 11 years, he decided to return to the restaurant business. But instead of “a little grass roots soul food diner, a hole in the wall with a couple of women working with a pencil in their hair,” he listened to the advice of a few friends. One told him that since he was using his own money to open the venue, he should name it after himself. Another, an Italian fellow who owned the liquor store on the corner, gave him ideas about high ceilings and big picture windows. Londel says he “just ate it up.”
“Since you’re a grand guy, then the restaurant should be really grand,” said his friend. It's almost become an obsession. “I close the restaurant down and shine up the floors every year. In fact, the place has been changed four or five times.”
One of the regular house bands is led by pianist Steven Lee who has been playing at Londel's for about seven years, and now headlines several times a month. Bartender John Pressley, who serves as the tour manager of the “Superstars of Jazz Fusion” series, has been known to come out and introduce the group. On one recent occasion, he broke into a soulful version of “My Funny Valentine,” walking over to several tables to serenade the ladies. Jazz fits the mature customer profile of Londel’s. “They want jazz music so they can dine and converse,” Londel explained.
Every table is customarily taken, and the club offers a warm mood with soft lighting, music bouncing off the wood floors and high ceilings as the tuxedo-clad waiters graciously cater to patrons. The walls of the adjoining rooms are adorned with original artwork for sale, adding a nice touch to the overall ambiance. But the music sets the mood best.
On a Friday evening this summer Lee’s trio performed a set of wonderful standards, playing at just the right volume. Drummer Tim Collins and bassist Mike Fitzbenjamin grooved with Lee like a snug-fitting glove on “Lester Left Town,” “My Shining Hour,” “Moanin’,” “Dindi,” “The Scene is Clean,” “Bouncing with Bud,” and “Airegin.” This particular night was the first time the drummer, whose precision and simpatico with his band mates reminds one of Kenny Washington, had played with them, so they arranged on the spot.
Fitzbenjamin was a pleasure to hear and watch; fluid on any tune, he took pleasure playing the low register of his acoustic bass (“there’s more juice there,” he said), while his upper body danced as he thumped the strings. Lee’s style incorporated a potpourri of approaches--gospel, Latin, and straight-ahead swing. He was especially adept at using tremolos and repeated phrases to build intensity.
For the future, Londel envisions his supper club as a fixture of the new Harlem slowly coming into existence. “For the people who come to our restaurant, we want them to relax and enjoy themselves like they did in Harlem’s heyday.”
~ Greg Thomas
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