Documentary: Post 398

I predict we'll soon be using the letters BP to broadly indicate a period in time that has past. During that period, the world stood a little closer, hugged a little more and did things like shake hands and share sodas. In 2019 BP (before the pandemic), there was a little place in Harlem where you could go to hear jazz with no cover or minimum. You just paid for drinks and food while you dug the regulars.

The space was a community room in the basement of the American Legion on 248 W. 132nd St. It struggled to remain active after the 2017 death of its founder, organist Seleno Clarke. And then the pandemic struck and the space closed. It re-opened briefly about six months ago, but had to quickly shut again. From what I hear, there are plans to re-open as soon as possible.

In 2019, director David N. Drake (above) filmed a short documentary on the space called Post 398. He was joined by producer Alec Liu, executive producer Sharukh Shaw, cinematographer Evelyn Lindberg, editor Ian Drake, sound designer Jack Brady Spelman and digital imaging technician Walter Chang.

I never made it up to the Post, but I spent a good portion of the 1980s at places like it—Barry Harris's Jazz Cultural Theater on 6th Ave., Rashid Ali's Ali's Alley in pre-boutique SoHo, the Jazz Forum loft in Cooper Square and others. Such clubs are vitally important as exciting turn-ons to those just coming to jazz and for those looking to feel the spirit of jazz without the pressure of the pending tab.

Here's Post 398...