I'd like to remind everyone that one of the nicest features of Smalls Jazz Club is that we are in an air-conditioned basement! Man, this heat is something else. Nice to have an ice-cold gin & tonic and listen to some good music. Drop by and stay late - Smalls is usually open to 3:30 - 4:00 AM.
I've spent the weekend in Waterloo, Ontario performing at the Jazz Room with my trio as part of the Waterloo Jazz Festival. It's been an amazing time and we were extremely well received. I want to shout out to Stephen Preece and Terry Pender who went way out of their way to organize and bring me up there. In addition to the concert, I did a masterclass and had a lively discussion about improvisation and the nature of Jazz music with a group of really involved and intelligent people. My hat is off to a great artistic community up there in Canada who really care about this music. Terry Pender wrote a great article about Smalls and our current Musician Revenue Share Project. You can read it here CLICK..
The undraiser for The Smalls Musicians Revenue Sharing Project is cruising along. As of this writing we are about 1/4 towards our goal. I appreciate everyone that's supported us thus far. As I've said, please check out the campaign (www.smallslive.com) - even by posting our link to your social media is a huge help. As always, please hit me up with any questions or comments - smallsjazzclub@gmail.com
This Week At Smalls
On Monday we have a collective quartet featuring the amazing Kenny Werner. Kenny has been a major force on the scene and has a creative, humorous and warm vibe that you should definitely experience if you've never heard him. This group "Animal Cracker" also features Dan Blake on soprano, Jorge Roeder on bass and Richie Barshay playing drums.
Tuesday night at 7:30 PM we have the irrepressible and joyful Michael Hashim. Michael is a fountain of music knowledge and extremely entertaining. I'll be playing piano and the great Murray Wall on bass. After us is the dynamic Legacy Band.
Wednesday evening we have a great double header starting at 9:30 with vocalist Brianna Thomas and her group. Brianna has an amazing voice and is starting to have a real presence on the music scene here. At midnight is saxophonist Russ Nolan and his quartet with Manuel Valera, Michael O'Brian & Brian Fishler. Should be a fantastic night of music.
This Thursday we are psyched to present a true Jazz veteran - pianist Jonny King comes in with his excellent quartet featuring Steve Wilson on alto, Ed Howard on bass and the truly swinging Billy Drummond playing drums. This should be an exciting show and a rare appearance from Jonny at Smalls.
The weekend features the amazing Stafford Hunter on trombone leading his quintet. Todd Bashore, Benito Gonzalez, Alex Claffy & E.J. Strickland round out the group. On Friday for the 7:30 PM show we have the erstwhile Tardo Hammer and his trio with Lee Hudson on bass and the legendary Jimmy Wormworth on drums. Saturday at 7:30 PM is a CD Release party for alto saxophonist David Bixler and his quintet which features John Bailey on trumpet, John Hart on guitar, Cameron Brown on bass and Anthony Pinciotti on drums.
This Sunday, as we've had, nearly every Sunday for the last 2 years we feature the wonderful Johnny O'Neal and his trio. If you've not yet heard Johnny, please don't miss him. You will not be dissappointed.
As always, I appreciate your support of the club and look forward to seeing you there in person.
Best Regards, Spike Wilner
Mon. 7/22
"Animal Crackers" feat. Kenny Werner
10:30 PM to 12:00 AM
Kenny Werner - Piano
Dan Blake - Soprano Sax
Jorge Roeder - Bass
Richie Barshay - Drums
Wed. 7/24
"Round Midnight" with:
The Russ Nolan Quartet
Midnight to close
Russ Nolan - Tenor Sax
Manuel Valera - Piano
Michael O'Brien - Bass
Brian Fishler - Drums
Fri. 7/26
The Tardo Hammer Trio
7:30 PM to 10:00 PM
Tardo Hammer - Piano
Lee Hudson - Bass
Jimmy Wormworth - Drums
Tues. 7/23
The Michael Hashim Trio
7:30 PM to 9:45 PM
Mike Hashim - Alto Sax
Murray Wall - Bass
Spike Wilner - Piano
Thurs. 7/25
The Jonny King Quartet
9:30 PM to 12:00 AM
Jonny King - Piano
Steve Wilson - Alto Sax
Ed Howard - Bass
Billy Drummond - Drums
Sat. 7/27
The David Bixler Quintet
7:30 PM to 10:00 PM
David Bixler - Alto Sax
John Bailey - Trumpet
John Hart - Guitar
Cameron Brown - Bass
Anthony Pinciotti - Drm.
Wed. 7/24
Vocalist Brianna Thomas
9:30 PM to 12:00 AM
Brianna Thomas - Voc.
Noah Jackson - Bass
Kyle Poole - Drums
FREE LIVE VIDEO Wednesday, July 24th
7:00 PM to close
Go to www.smallsjazzclub.com and click "LIVE VIDEO" - please enjoy our live video show. We hope you consider becoming a subscribing member
Catch all our shows on our LIVE STREAM. Become a SmallsLIVE Member and watch our shows from your home computer or mobile device. Also, sign up for the free use of our Audio Archive, nearly 6 years of recorded material, artist bios and information. All at www.smallsjazzclub.com
Please consider supporting the Smalls Musicians Revenue Share Project. For more info --> www.smallslive.com
OUR SCHEDULE THIS WEEK:
Monday, July 22nd
7:30 PM to 9:45 PM - Roberta Piket Solo Piano Roberta Piket - Piano , 10:00 PM to 12:30 AM - "Animal Crackers" feat. Kenny Werner Kenny Werner - Piano , Dan Blake - Soprano Sax , Jorge Roeder - Bass , Richie Barshay - Drums 12:30 AM to close - Afterhours with: Spencer Murphy Spencer Murphy - Bass ,
Tuesday, July 23rd
7:30 PM to 9:45 PM - The Michael Hashim Trio Mike Hashim - Alto Sax , Murray Wall - Bass , Spike Wilner - Piano 10:00 PM to 12:30 AM (two sets) - The Smalls Legacy Band Stacy Dillard - Tenor Sax , Josh Evans - Trumpet , Theo Hill - Piano , Rashaan Carter - Bass , Frank Lacy - Trombone , Kush Abadey - Drums 12:30 AM to close - The Next Generation Sessions hosted by Kyle Poole and Friends Kyle Poole - Drums ,
Wednesday, July 24th
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM - Tap Dance Jam! Hosted by Michela Lerman Michela Marino Lerman - Tap Dancer , 9:30 PM to 12:00 AM - Vocalist Brianna Thomas Brianna Thomas - Vocalist , Noah Jackson - Bass , Kyle Poole - Drums Midnight to close - "Round Midnight" with The Russ Nolan Quartet Russ Nolan - Tenor Sax , Manuel Valera - Piano , Michael O'Brien - Bass , Brian Fishler - Drums
Thursday, July 25th
5:00 PM to 8:45 PM($10 cover/musicians free) - Afternoon Open Jam Session with: Sam Raderman and Luc Decker Luc Decker - Drums , Nial Djuliarso - Piano , Sam Raderman - Guitar , 9:30 PM to 12:00 AM - The Jonny King Quartet Jonny King - Piano , Steve Wilson - Alto Sax , Ed Howard - Bass , Billy Drummond - Drums Midnight to close - "Round Midnight" with: The Emmet Cohen Trio Emmet Cohen - Piano , Mark Whitfield Jr - Drums
Friday, July 26th
7:30 PM to 10:00 PM - The Tardo Hammer Trio Tardo Hammer - Piano , Lee Hudson - Bass , Jimmy Wormworth - Drums 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM($10 cover/musicians free) - Happy Hour Jam Session with: Pasquale Grasso Pasquale Grasso - Guitar , 10:30 PM to 1:00 PM - TheStafford Hunter Quintet Stafford Hunter - Trombone , Todd Bashore - Alto Sax , Benito Gonzalez - Piano , Alexander Claffy - Bass , E.J. Strickland - Drums 1:30 AM to close - Afterhours with: Ehud Asherie Ehud Asherie - Piano ,
Saturday, July 27th
4:00 PM to 7:00 PM - The "Early Bird" Session hosted by Dwayne Clemons & Sasha Perry Jimmy Wormworth - Drums , Sacha Perry - Piano , Dwayne Clemons - Trumpet , Josh Benko - Alto Sax , Murray Wall - Bass 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM - The David Bixler Quartet David Bixler - Alto Sax , John Bailey - Trumpet , John Hart - Guitar , Cameron Brown - Bass , Anthony Pinciotti - Drums 10:30 PM to 1:00 PM - The Stafford Hunter Quintet Stafford Hunter - Trombone , Todd Bashore - Alto Sax , Benito Gonzalez - Piano , Alexander Claffy - Bass , E.J. Strickland - Drums 1:15 AM to close - Afterhours with: Stacy Dillard Stacy Dillard - Tenor Sax ,
Sunday, July 28th
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM - Vocal Masterclass with Marion Cowings $20 entry - $40 to participate Marion Cowings - Vocalist 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM - The Smalls Showcase Presents: Lee & Elizabeth Tomboulian Lee Tomboulian - Piano , 7:30 PM to 9:45 PM - The Ehud Asherie Trio Ehud Asherie - Piano , 10:30 PM to 11:00 PM - The Legendary Johnny O'Neal Johnny O'Neal - Piano , Midnight to close - "Round Midnight" with: The Tuomo Uusitalo Trio Jason Brown - Drums , Tamir Shmerling - Bass , Tuomo Uusitalo - Piano ,