The Colored Musicians Club of Buffalo

"Up until February 3, 1917, Buffalo, New York, only had one musicians union—one that didn’t accept black artists. But on that day, a group of black musicians decided to start their own union, Local 533. A year later, in 1918, a group of union members got together to form their own social club, a place to relax, share meals, and hold band rehearsals. The Colored Musicians Club, a separate entity from Local 533, purchased its own venue in the 1930s. The union held its meetings on the first floor while upstairs, the club’s members filled the rooms with jazz. The club became a haven for musicians who, after the white and black unions were forced to merge, were put out of jobs by the newly united union’s favoritism toward its white members. Aspiring musicians gathered within the club to hone their craft with the local greats. People of all races were welcome. Locals would socialize with one another and test their skills, and even mingle with whichever big-name celebrities popped in. Some of the United States’ greatest jazz musicians, such as Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington, passed through the club, where they played alongside the city’s own talent. Today, the club is still a vibrant part of the community, and it’s the oldest-running club of its kind in the U.S. The first level of the building houses the Colored Musicians Club Museum, a multimedia archive that showcases the venue’s past and highlights the history of jazz. Head to the second floor, and you’ll be immersed in the sounds that secured the venue’s place in music history." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

"A stop at the Colored Musicians Club is a must for any music fan visiting Buffalo. Founded in 1917—after Buffalo’s African-American musicians were forced to form their own union—the club started as a place to hang out after work, but quickly morphed into a space for band practice, union meetings, and occasional performances. When it moved to its current location in 1934, it became the spot for jazz greats to stop in and show off, welcoming everyone from Billie Holiday, Miles Davis, and Dizzy Gillespie to Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and Ella Fitzgerald. Today, it’s the only remaining African American club in the country—it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2018—and works to encourage the research and preservation of jazz history in Buffalo. Every Sunday, guests can sit in on a concert and jam session—just make sure to get there early as seats tend to fill up quickly. There’s also a museum in the same building, where you can view and interact with artifacts representing the club’s storied history."

"The only operating African American jazz club in the U.S., hosting famous musicians and now a museum." - Jess McHugh Jess McHugh Jess McHugh is a journalist, author, and researcher who has reported from North and South America, Europe, the Caribbean, and West Africa. She's written hundreds of stories, ranging from the fight to preserve