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One Step Down

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2517 Pennsylvania Ave., NW

1963-2000

Originally owned by Joe Cohen, his father, and his brother. Opened in September 1963.

Owned by Joe Cohen (1963-1997). Booked by Ann Mabuchi (1978-1994), Vincent Brienza (1997). Bought by Retail Resource Group in 1997, but ownership reverted to Joe Cohen later that year. Club was closed for less than a month in August 1997 before reopening in September under the management of Cohen family friend Catherine Stuart. Building sold in 2000 to developers for conversion to apartments. In 2000 it did not reopen after the annual August sabbatical. Stuart retained rights to the One Step Down name and hoped to relocate in 2001, but this did not come to pass.

Initially, the bar’s attraction was an all-jazz jukebox. It began hosting a Monday night jam session, and by 1978, the club had hired Mabuchi and was offering live music on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday nights with a Saturday afternoon jam session. Pianist Lawrence Wheatley ran sessions on Saturday and Sunday afternoons through 1997, succeeded by Peter Edelman when the club reopened in September 1997.

Recordings by Andrew White (1979), Andrew White (1998), Peter Fraize (2000).

Artists

  • Bernard Sweetney (1978)
  • Yochk’o Seffer (1978)
  • Bill Glaser (1978)
  • Marc Cohen (1978)
  • Nathen Page (1978)
  • Kenny Reed (1978)
  • Terry Plumeri (1978)
  • Marshall Hawkins (1978)
  • Carl Cornwell (1978)
  • Dave Palamar (1978)
  • Kevin Toney (1978)
  • Tim Eyermann (1978)
  • Adam Makowicz (1978)
  • Charles Covington (1978)
  • Barbara Lea (1979)
  • Marc Cohen (1979)
  • Andrew White (1979)
  • Warren Chiasson (1980)
  • Horacee Arnold (1980)
  • Roger Rosenberg (1980)
  • Big Nick Nicholas (1980)
  • Billy Mitchell (1980)
  • David Friesen (1980)
  • Tom Harrell (1980)
  • Roy Haynes (1980)
  • Turk Mauro (1980)
  • Richie Cole (1980)
  • Skip Gailes (1980)
  • Reuben Brown (1980)
  • Roland Hanna (1980)
  • Kenny Barron (1980)
  • George Coleman (1980)
  • Dave Liebman (1980)
  • Benny Carter (1980)
  • Sonny Stitt (1980)
  • Shirley Horn (1980)
  • David Schnitter (1981)
  • Joanne Brackeen (1982)
  • Nat Adderley (1983)
  • Shirley Horn (1983)
  • Joe Henderson (1983)
  • T Street Band (1985)
  • Steve Novosel (1986)
  • Lennie Cuje (1986)
  • Reuben Brown (1986)
  • Ronnie Patterson (1986)
  • Woody Shaw (1987)
  • Johnny Griffin (1989)
  • Larry Willis (1997)
  • Jerry Gordon (1997)
  • Andrew White (1998)
  • Talib Kibwe (2000)
  • Peter Fraize (2000)
  • John Previti (2000)
  • David ‘Fathead’ Newman (2000)
  • Harry Appelman (2000)
  • Glenn Wilson (2000)
  • Calvin Jones (2000)
  • Joe Locke (2000)
  • Allyn Johnson (2000)
  • Steve Novosel (2000)

Bibliography

Brace, Eric. “All That Jazz: Club Changes.” Washington Post, May 23, 1997.
Brace, Eric. “Steppin’ Out Again.” Washington Post, September 5, 1997.
Brace, Eric. “Club Closings.” Washington Post, November 10, 2000.
Fisher, Marc. “All Jazzed Up, No Place to Go: Fewer Places for a Sound D.C. Loves.” Washington Post, November 2, 1997.
Harrington, Richard. “Limelight.” Washington Post, August 21, 1983.
Himes, Geoffrey. “The Winning Hands of Joanne Brackeen.” Washington Post, April 26, 1982.
Himes, Geoffrey. “Marshall Hawkins.” Washington Post. September 1, 1979.
Joyce, Mike. “Ronnie Wells.” Washington Post. July 2, 1990.
Joyce, Mike. “Carter Jefferson, Live & on Tape.” Washington Post, September 27, 1993.
Joyce, Mike. “Pike’s Peak Performance.” Washington Post, March 16, 1993.
Mabuchi, Ann. “Stepping on ‘One Step Down.’” Washington Post, May 26, 1978.
Pasternack, Nancy. “Jazz Messenger.” Washington Post, September 12, 1993.
Piantadosi, Roger. “All That Jazz: The Music Stayed Cool, So It’s Hotter Than Ever.” Washington Post, August 22, 1986.
Stokes, W. Royal. “Tommy Flanagan Duo.” Washington Post, November 10, 1979.
Stokes, W. Royal. “Arnette Cobb.” Washington Post. January 9, 1982.
Stokes, W. Royal. “Roger Rosenberg.” Washington Post. January 19, 1980.
Stokes, W. Royal. “Jane Ira Bloom.” Unicorn Times, June 1981.
Stokes, W. Royal. “Anita Moore.” Washington Post. January 24, 1981.
Stokes, W. Royal. “Allen Houser.” Washington Post. June 16, 1984.
Stokes, W. Royal. “Jazz Man Jim Snidero.” Washington Post, December 23, 1984.
Stokes, W. Royal. “Charlie Rouse.” Washington Post. August 25, 1984.
Stokes, W. Royal. “Sonny Stitt.” Washington Post. October 20, 1979.
Stokes, W. Royal. “Sonny Stitt.” Washington Post. July 5, 1980.
Stokes, W. Royal. “Sax to the Max.” Washington Post, October 27, 1985.
Stokes, W. Royal. “Carter Jefferson.” Washington Post, September 1, 1984.
Sumrall, Harry. “Adam Makowicz.” Washington Post, December 9, 1978.
Sumrall, Harry. “Yotchk’o Seffer, Crossing the Boundaries.” Washington Post, September 26, 1978.
Weintraub, Boris. “Washington Gig Scene Sizzles.” Billboard, October 22, 1977.
West, Hollie I. “Live Jazz: Big Nick’s Rare Show.” Washington Post, June 18, 1979.
Yorke, Jeffrey. “One Step Down, Excalibur: Two Ways to Serve Jazz.” Washington Post, July 15, 1983.

Wiki Tags: 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s

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