Jazz on Main Brings Smorgasbord of Sound, Sight and Taste to Mt. Kisco
News Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
By Brian Kluepfel
Shaul Dover’s teenage attempts at playing music, including marching band, drums, piano and guitar, never quite took hold, yet he remained a fan.
Moving from Israel to New York City in the 1980s, his appreciation was heightened by the Big Apple’s smorgasbord of musical styles and venues.
When his own children showed a proclivity for making music – and wanted it to be recorded – Dover finally opened his own studio, Sweatshop Studios, in Katonah in 2008. The recording facility has hosted Rob Thomas, among other artists, and also focuses on television and radio voiceovers and soundtracks.
The ultimate byproduct of “sound” business decisions and sandwich-filled dreams was the opening earlier this year of Dover’s Jazz on Main in Mount Kisco, decades-long in conception but only five years in realization.
Past family discussions often jokingly brought up the idea of opening a food-based cafe, but Dover had always seriously considered it, and now has a venue which combines his love of sound engineering with savory Middle Eastern cuisine and a light show for what he calls “an immersive experience.”
For Dover, the main thing is entertainment. He said he is less interested in “virtuosos playing scales up and down” than in communication with the audience. Thus, he said, “vocalists are very important to me.”
So is food. When asked about his house hummus, he laughed and said, “Of course, it’s the best in the world.”
Consulting with friends in the restaurant trade to develop a kitchen and menu, he’s achieved his goal of bringing flavors from his homeland to his clientele, which is of great importance to him.
“The way Italians care about coffee, I care about hummus and baba ghanoush,” he said.
While a master builder in Maine fashioned the club’s bar, lighting fixtures traversed a more difficult path. Dover ordered them on Etsy, not knowing the seller was based in Kiev. Somehow, though the Russian invasion took place just after the order was placed, the fixtures were routed through Poland, and eventually made it to Mount Kisco.
Dover’s preoccupation is twofold – for the clientele, but also for the musicians.
“I am a sound engineer, he said. “Our sound is pristine. This is very important for musicians; they are feeding off it, really enjoying what they hear,” he said.
His experience at Sweatshop Studios, as well as consulting on the Bedford Playhouse’s sound system, gave him confidence to design the system for Jazz on Main.
In sum, Dover is recreating his vision of the American Dream, the golden age of jazz, reimagined for the 21st century.
“We aim to transport guests to another era while engaging all the senses.”
What would jazz be without a little improvisation? On Thursdays, Jazz on Main hosts an open jam session and on Sundays a relaxed jazz brunch.
Jazz on Main is located at 37 S. Moger Ave. in Mount Kisco. For more information, including a schedule of upcoming performers and the menu that is offered, visit www.jazzonmain.com.
Examiner Media – Keeping you informed with professionally-reported local news, features, and sports coverage.
