Ken Dircks has created and founded a unique pop-up jazz club in Westchester, Ken’s Jazz Attic. Dircks is a main driver in bringing talented and distinctive individuals to Westchester and celebrating the emotion and genius behind jazz and what it can add to individuals’ lives.
NYS Music had the opportunity to speak directly with Dircks, learning more about what led him to found this concept, and the genius behind the workings of Ken’s Jazz Attic.
Dircks recounted his personal journey with jazz, which ultimately brought him to the moment where the idea for Ken’s Jazz Attic sparked and took off. Dircks has been involved with and playing jazz since he was 12 years old. Later in life, when his kids were old enough to be in school full time, he wanted to perform again, something he had always loved. Dircks rented a stand-up bass and taught himself enough to perform a local Americana acoustic act. He then convinced one of his son’s friends’ fathers to join his act as a jazz pianist. With the addition of a third member, they created the Ken Dircks Trio.
Dircks then recounted that, after being fully immersed back into the jazz and performing environment with The Ken Dircks Trio, he went on to experiment with music and mashing genres. He was experimenting with punk and Grateful Dead music, and mashing jazz with punk. It was at a local venue where he was running these mash-up experiments live that the idea for Ken’s Jazz Attic struck.
A friend watching him perform put the idea in his head, stating, “Hey, you should do a pop-up Jazz club.” After a bit of thought, Dircks realized the promise behind such an idea. Located in Westchester, just 15 minutes from New York City, the jazz capital of the world.
Dircks had a vision of creating an environment so intimate and special where individuals in Westchester could come and listen to amazing jazz musicians, in an atmosphere that feels like they are in the middle of Manhattan. Dircks recounted the wonder of his own experience sitting in a jazz club solely focused on the performer, “where the lights are dim, and the room is smoky” and all of your attention is on the music.
Dircks described his passion for recreating this feeling for audience members, and the moment he knew it would be possible and successful. Dircks described that he knew it had legs when he and a friend played the first gig, low risk, and set up the venue just like a Manhattan jazz club. The environment felt “like that feeling of being in a dark smoky jazz club where you are focused on the performers – the moment when someone in Westchester forgets that they are in Westchester.”
It was after this moment that Dircks began curating shows, finding musicians and other talent in New York City to bring to Westchester to perform. Dircks described how he searches for candidates by leveraging technology and AI to his advantage. After this, he listens to their music and chooses the artists and musicians that utilize the jazz genre in such a way that is “challenging and edgy, that is new and young,” and that adds to the “certain musical journey I want to take the audience on through the performances.”
He highlighted that “once you get an artist that you believe in, you let them do whatever they want,” and that he essentially leaves the show up to the creativity of the chosen artists. He expressed how this has never failed him and that “they will surprise you and delight you.” He confidently stated that he would call every single person who has performed at Ken’s Jazz Attic a genius.
Dircks also recounted that so far, he has connected with every single artist via Instagram DM. Stating, “I did not realize how important that channel is,” and acting as an example of how technology and social media can often be used as a great advantage in connecting with others.
Dircks currently has two upcoming shows in February and March. February 12, from 7 to 10pm EST, Alex Goodman, an inventive jazz guitarist-composer, will perform with his ensemble, featuring Ben Street and Eric McPherson. Dircks highlighted how, when it comes to jazz guitarists, “there are ones out there that break the mold, and he (Alex Goodman) is one of them.” He described that this performance is “about texture.”
In addition, on March 12, from 7pm to 10pm EST, Jamie Baum, an imaginative composer, will perform, along with Jaleel Shaw, a well-established composer and saxophonist. Dircks described Jamie Baum’s music as complex, layered, and precise. He shared that he is excited for her performance as it is unique and has so much genius behind it; he is looking forward to sharing it with the audience.
Dircks looks forward to continuing this journey with Ken’s Jazz Attic, featuring distinctive artists, and creating a space and atmosphere where Westchester can be immersed in the wonder of jazz. The events on February 12 and March 12 are both hosted at Tequila Sunrise in Larchmont, NY, from 7pm to 10pm EST. Tickets and more information can be found on the Ken’s Jazz Attic website.
Comments are closed.