Café El Despertar – Jazz Club
El Despertar (the wake up) looks as though it has done just that – woken up Rip Van Winkle style after having slumbered for decades. It presents itself like a frozen moment in jazz history with antique fans, coat racks, cash registers, lighting fixtures and tables all seemingly untouched by time. The club, however, is far from new having celebrated its 26th anniversary.
The layout of the venue is a bit unusual. Instead of placing the stage in front for all to see, the bands perform in a space tucked just around the corner from the main room. Here, there are at about eight or 10 tables with a view of the performers; the rest of the people can enjoy live music while socializing.
And while you are socializing, you can of course enjoy anything from cañas to rum and cokes, but the speciality of the house is the coffee drinks (i.e. Irish Coffees). There’s some logic in mixing depressants and stimulants while listening to jazz, but I can’t quite put my finger on it – a more refined, literate high?
Anyway, speaking of refined and literate highs, not surprisingly, El Despertar is also a locus for poets and politicos. Poetry readings are common and once a month there are “Diálogos Del Conocimiento” (Dialogues of Knowledge), which change in theme but focus on issues such as fair trade.
So if you are feeling a bit groggy either literally or existentially, perhaps El Despertar is the place for you.
Café El Despertar
Metro: Antón Martin and Lavapies
Daily except Tues: 19:00 to 2:30
To go back to the main Music Venues and Clubs page click here
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