After all is said and done, the smoking ban could have been detrimental to the overall health of jazz clubs – once defined as dark dens of iniquity where music laid heavy in the air as billowing plumes of smoke whipped around the musicians, audience wheezing and coughing ‘til dawn.

But then again, it could also be a great relief that these days our lungs no longer run such a risk of subsequent spluttering over the music as the sheer power of some performers at Harlem has been known to create an atmosphere you can cut with a knife.

Though the name lends itself to thoughts of the smoky New York Jazz scene, Harlem runs performances though the entire spectrum of live music: from the fervent, “sit down, shut up and be dazzled” styles such as flamenco and tango through to more even-tempered genres of soul, funk, afro-jazz, latin-jazz, gypsy-jazz and any other hybrid-jazz species that may exist out there. Jam nights, held during the week, are usually the best way to discover new talent and a good way to rub shoulders with the locals.

During the week the concerts are free, but drinks prices tend to rise for live performances. On Thursdays to Saturdays there is a 6€ cover charge for concerts – check out the website for listings.