From 1934 until 1950, New York's fabled Swing Street was truly a magical place. To turn west from Fifth Avenue onto 52nd Street was to step into an entertainment wonderland. Within two city blocks there were no fewer than 38 nightclubs: comedy clubs, theater clubs, literary clubs, swank supper clubs - but mostly there were jazz clubs. Nearly every great jazz and pop musician of the ‘30's and 40's frequented 52nd Street. On any given night you could hear Count Basie or Louis Prima at the Famous Door, Fats Waller at the Yacht Club; Mabel Mercer at Tony's; and Art Tatum, Maxine Sullivan or Dizzy Gillespie at the Three Deuces. Jimmy Ryan's and the Hickory House hosted jam sessions that were legendary. Within all this musical activity, the swing style of jazz was being developed and refined. It is this golden age of jazz that Ed Polcer and his Jazz All-Stars will explore as they take their listeners on a musical stroll down this famous street. Join cornetist Ed Polcer and his Jazz All-Stars as they bring you into the smoky clubs that housed the New York Classic Jazz style, interspersing music with narrative, a bit of nostalgia and humor. Send Email to Ed Polcer Return to the main page