Legendary Places – Chelsea Place

In 1989, my sister took me to Chelsea Place, a three-tiered restaurant, lounge, and dance club in New York City’s Chelsea district. There, I had my first sloe gin fizz and danced to jazz like I didn’t know I could.

This jazz-forward mix is dedicated to my sister. It also includes a tribute to my father, who passed away in September of 2024. He supported every endeavor and, along with my mother, gave us our earliest memories of music—from trips to Compton, California to get our afros blown out, jazz blasting from a bubble jukebox, to my dad channeling James Brown, cape and all.

I miss and love him deeply. I humbly present this mix for your enjoyment.

NghtPhnx brings you Legendary Places, a mix series that commemorates transformational dance clubs and night spots present during the period between the late 80s to late 90s. The song selection is intended to be more autobiographical than historical and the intent is to evoke a feeling of re-discovering these unique spaces where freedom of expression and safe celebration was possible. NghtPhnx dedicates this mix to Jewel Thais-Williams who created Jewel’s Catch One. They also dedicate this mix series to their late dear friends Rick Ybarra, Reynaldo Ramos, and Alfredo Altamirano.