Hottest Monday Night Party In NYC

Big Ed Sullivan’s house band at the Red Lion

L. to R. Big Ed Sullivan, Matt Mousseau, Arthur Neilson, V.D. King, David Bennett Cohen, —the baddass house band of Big Ed’s Blues jam at the Red Lion

New Year’s Eve has come and gone, but the party’s never over in New York City, especially the sizzling Monday night blues jam at The Red Lion on Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village. Big Ed Sullivan’s World-Famous Blues Jam is not only the Baddest Blues jam in town, its free (though everyone is encouraged to grease the tip jar). Big Ed’s badass house band plays the first set and then musicians who have signed up are called on stage to perform. Each band plays two songs before another group takes the stage. There is so much variety and talent on this stage that the audience goes wild.

L.to R: Jason Green. V.D. King, Chuckie Hancock, Matt Mousseau, Arthur Neilson, Duke Robillard and … [+] David Bennett Cohen jam

Joseph A. Rosen

It’s not rare to find famous touring artists such as Shemekia Copeland. Willy Nile, Samantha Fish, Bettye LaVette, Papa Chubby, Duke Robillard and other well-known performers who stop by to hang with old friends and play when not on the road. The bar is hopping with regular music-lovers, musicians, tourists from around the world, college students, and people who come in because they heard the music from the street. Everyone is drinking, eating (the food is surprisingly good), dancing, clapping, tapping, and hooting or performing.

Co-hosts Big Ed Sullivan and Christine Santelli

Matt Peyton Photography LLC

This is no ordinary blues jam, especially as NYC has lost more than 30 clubs since the mid 90’s when rents increased and clubs went out of business. This jam, started 28 years ago, is most likely the longest running blues jam in the world. Brooklyn-born songwriter, musician, and front man Big Ed Sullivan plays lead guitar and co-runs the jam with fellow host and Grammy-nominated songwriter, Christine Santelli. Santelli, who is also a singer, guitar player and has her own band, goes onstage only if it’s someone’s birthday, and then she sings the funkiest bluesy version of Happy Birthday you’ve ever heard — before passing around cake to the entire house. That’s right — for everyone!

Matt Mousseau on stix

Matt Peyton Photography

Santelli and her husband Matt Mousseau, the band’s drummer, founded the jam in 1987 in Hoboken, New Jersey. When that bar closed, they took it to NYC, and it has continued ever since at the Red Lion. Says Santelli, “It’s a community of musicians, photographers, writers, artists and fans, a blues family that has extended all over the world and keeps growing . Over the years, many collaborations have taken place on that stage.”

V.D.King and Big Ed Sullivan play Kingfish’s new Fender in tandem

Joseph A. Rosen

The musicians are so respected that Fender donated Big Ed and the house band a signature purple Telecaster ® Deluxe, created by 23-year-old Grammy winner Christone “Kingfish” Ingram. “The jam is a nurturing environment for the up and comers and a hang for the pros and fans,” says Santelli. Sullivan adds, “We need new blood to keep the art going. Blues jam are not only for old friends who’ve played together for decades, but also for young people to come and learn how to play with a band on stage. There’s no school to learn to learn this stuff.”

Arthur Neilson jamming at The Red Lion

Matt Peyton Photography

Arthur Neilson, who plays bass for the house band (and sometimes, guitar) is the guitar player for Shemekia Copeland and also has his own band. “I look forward to this gig more than anything else in the world,” says Neilson. “It’s comfortable, like an old pair of pants or a flannel shirt. There’s never any competition; everyone is supportive of each other. It’s like a big family.”

David Bennett Cohen on keys

Matt PeytonP hotography

House band keyboardist David Bennett Cohen, formerly keyboard player for Country Joe and the Fish and who has played with so many of the greats, says. “This is like an old traveling rock and roll blues show –- you never know when the magic is going to happen. People have to realize there’s magic in live music.”

V.D. King playing bass

Matt Peyton Photography

Guitar player V.D. King, who also gas his own band, is a multi-instrumentalist, recording engineer and record producer who’s been at the jam most every Monday for 28 years. “I might have missed one when I was getting married,” he says, adding, “The talent pool is tremendous, and it’s run very well.”

Mike Mueller and Mike Torres, two regular jammers

Matt Peyton Photography

This particular blues jam is a meeting place for the blues family in New York. It’s a place to socialize, network, and even a place where bands are formed. “Young people get to experience and learn on stage,” says Sullivan. “Being a musician in your bedroom is one thing, but you really have to be on a stage and learn how to play with other musicians in front of an audience.”

Sean Daly, guitarist, signs up to play

Matt Peyton Photography LLC

I heard about Big Ed’s jam 11 years ago, when I first took up blues harmonica. Someone told me to get there early to sign up. I did, then sat at a table right in front of the stage. After a while, Big Ed called out my name (I was first on the list) and said, “Do you sing?” I told him no, I didn’t; I played harmonica.

The house band was on stage, all of them so professional and sounding to tight, I knew I could never get up and play without embarrassing myself. I tiptoed to the white board, crossed out my name, and sat back down. A little while later, when the first jam band was setting up, I sneaked out. Unfortunately, standing at the door was Big Ed. Busted. “Leaving so soon?” he asked.

“I’ll come back when I can play half as well as you guys,” I said.

“You come back and just play like you,” he said. It was the nicest thing anyone had ever said to me about playing music, and coming from him made it super special.

A year later, I felt ready, so I returned and signed up. When my name was called, I was terrified, but I got up anyway because I always make myself do things that scare me to death. I’m sure my solo sounded like a bleating sheep, but encouraged by the other musicians, I returned the next Monday — and have showed up every Monday since.

Margie Goldsmith playing harp on stage at the jam

Matt Peyton Photography

Eleven years later, I’m no longer afraid. Each time after I finish playing, Big Ed asks, “Did you have fun?” And I grin, because this is one of the most fun things I do — not because I get to perform in front of an audience, but because the musicians and the regulars have become my friends and the night is always so filled with love and encouragement. And even better, often big Ed or one of the house band members will come up and whisper a suggestion in my ear or tell me I sounded good, and that makes my entire week.

Two well-known musicians on stage: Heather Hardy and Brian Mitchell

Joseph A. Rosen

Sullivan, Santelli and all the house band members say that being here is like being with family, one with whom you never get annoyed. So even though I never know which musicians with whom I’ll be playing from week to week, it’s always uplifting. How can it not be when I’m making music?

No matter how stressful my day on Monday might be, every other Monday night (when the jam is held) it’s my happy place. There’s nothing better than connecting with like-minded people who love the blues – whether they’re playing or listening. Even one of the bartenders, Anya Aliferis, is a musician with her own band, but Monday nights, she’s behind the bar. (And please tip Anya nicely, and all the bartenders and waitresses nicely; they work very hard for the money).

Anya Aliferis, bartender/musician

Matt Peyton Photography

Big Ed’s Baddass Jam takes place the first and third Monday of every month, 7-10pm at The Red Lion, 151 Bleecker St, NYC. No reservations are needed but musicians who want to play must sign up. And if you’re coming tonight, January 2nd, or January 16th in two weeks, please say hello. We’ll all be there, getting high on the music.

L. to R. Big Ed Sullivan, Matt Mousseau, Chuckie Hancock, V.D. King, Sean Daly, David Bennett Cohen

Joseph A. Rosen