I've been thinking lately about two Jazz clubs that I spent a lot time in when I was a young musician coming up on the scene. Unfortunately, both are now defunct. Both clubs had a big impact on me as an artist and as a person. I find myself referencing these clubs as I make decisions on how to run Smalls and what "the mission" of Smalls should be. These are role model Jazz clubs for how a Jazz club is supposed to feel and what it really represents.
The first I want to mention was the Village Gate on Bleecker Street. The Village Gate was an enormous place with an upstairs theater, a downstairs theater and a ground level terrace with a stage and Steinway. My good friend and marvelous pianist, Raphael D'Lugoff was basically running the place by the time I started hanging out there. His father, Art D'Lugoff was one of the most famous club owners in Jazz music history - a true empresario of Jazz music. "The Gate", as people called it, was a real family place. People hung out there day and night - it was so relaxed and informal. People played chess at the tables, friends greeted each other, conversations were had. This is what we go for at Smalls - that warm, relaxed and informal environment Great music and great big family get-together!
The other place that impressed me was Bradley's on University Place. Bradley's was small, dark and all wood. This was a real New York city bar and a real musicians club. Most of the time the door man really didn't want to let me in - I was too young to really hang out there with any authority. I'd be scared witless at the bar, sitting next to and eavesdropping on Ron Carter and McCoy Tyner's conversation while Hank Jones played trio with Ray Drummond and Billy Higgins! I was just a fly on the wall. The seriousness of this room impressed me hard - Bradley's was no joke. This quality is also something that we go for at Smalls - a serious spot, a spot, for musicians to hang out late, converse and hear each other play.
Smalls Musician Revenue Share Project Update:
As of this writing we are nearly to $34,000.00. As I've said before, for us this is already a great success. We've raised enough to definitely build the system and upgrade our recording equipment and cameras. We still hope to complete our goal, mostly so we can get the new piano. If it's meant to be than it's meant to be, otherwise we'll wait on a new instrument and be grateful for the enormous support we've seen over the last 36 days - 24 days to go until we're done.
Monday: We begin our week with a duet concert from two really creative and sensitive improvisors. Tenor saxophonist Jerome Sabbagh and pianist Pete Rende perform from 7:30 to 10PM. At 10PM we welcome back our resident Monday night artist Ari Hoenig and his trio with Shai Maestro & Johannes Weidenmuller
Tuesday - we have our regular program starting with my trio at 7:30, the Smalls Legacy band at 10:30 PM and the "Next Generation" jam session at 1:00 AM.
Wednesday & Thursday - I'm psyched to bring back ex-patriot from France Logan Richardson and his group SHIFT which features Sullivan Fortner, Harish Raghavan & Tommy Crane. They play from 9:30 PM to 12:00 AM both nights. Wednesday for our "Round Midnight" show we feature drummer Craig Wuepper and his trio "Earsight". On Thursday at midnight is resident quintet led by Carlos Abadie.
Friday & Saturday - this weekend for our 10:30 PM show we feature another ex-patriot trumpetist John Marshall and his quintet which features Tardo Hammer, Grant Stewart, David Wong and the legendary Jimmy Wormworth on drums. Our 7:30 PM concert features the wonderful pianist Pete Malinverni and is trio with Ugonna Okegwo & Steve Williams. On Saturday at 7:30 PM we are pleased to present a CD release from alto saxophonist Nich Hempton and his quintet showcasing Michael Deese, Art Hirahara & Dan Oran.
Sunday - as always a full day of music - 1PM Marion Cowings 4:30 PM John Merill, 7:30 PM Ehud Asherie., 10PM Johnny O'Neal and at Midnight the Jeb Patton trio with David Wong & Rodney Green.
As always I thank you for your support of this music and our club. I hope to see you at Smalls in person and urge you to do good deeds and be compassionate to all living things!
Best Regards, Spike Wilner
Mon. 8/12
Jerome Sabbagh
Pete Rende - Duo
7:30 PM to 9:45 PM
Jerome Sabbagh - T. Sax
Pete Rende - Piano
Wed. 8/14
"Round Midnight"
Craig Wuepper Trio "Earsight"
12:30 AM to close
Paul Odeh - Piano
Essiet Essiet - Bass
Craig Wuepper - Drums
Fri. 8/16
Afterhours with:
The Lawrence Leathers Group
1:15 AM to close
Lawrence Leathers - Drums
Mon. 8/12
Ari Hoenig
10:00 PM to 12:30 AM
Shai Maestro - Piano
Johannes Weidenmuller - Bass
Ari Hoenig - Drums
Fri. 8/16
Pete Malinverni Trio
7:30 PM to 10:00 PM
Pete Malinverni - Piano
Ugonna Okegwo - Bass
Steve Williams - Drums
Fri. & Sat.
8/16 & 8/17
The John Marshall Quintet
10:30 PM to 1:00 AM
John Marshall - Trumpet Grant Stewart - T. Sax
Tardo Hammer - Piano
David Wong - Bass Jimmy Wormworth - Drums
Wed & Thurs
8/14 & 8/15
Logan Richardson & SHIFT
9:30 PM to 12:00 AM
Logan Richardson - A Sax
Sullivan Fortner - Piano
Harish Raghavan - Bass
Tommy Crane - Drum
Sat. 8/17
Nick Hempton Band
CD Release:
"Odd Man Out"
7:30 PM to 10:00 PM
Nick Hempton - Alto Sax
Michael Dease - Trombone
Art Hirahara - Piano
Marco Panascia - Bass
Dan Aran - Drums
Sun. 8/18
"Round Midnight" with:
The Jeb Patton Trio
11:30 PM to close
Jeb Patton - Piano
David Wong - Bass
Rodney Green - Drums
OUR REGULAR WEEKLYS SHOWS:
Mon, "Afterhours" - Spencer Murphy Jam
Tues, 7:30 PM to 9:45 PM - Spike Wilner Trio
Tues, 10PM to 12:30 AM - Smalls Legacy Band (featuring Frank Lacy, Josh Evans, Theo Hill & Stacy Dillard)
Tues, "Afterhours" - Kyle Poole "Next Generation" Jam
Wed, 6PM to 8:45 PM - Michela Lerman Tap Jam
Thur, 5PM to 8:45 PM - Sam Raderman Afternoon Jam
Fri, 4PM to 7PM - Paquale Grasso Afternoon Jam
Sat, 4PM to 7PM - The Dwayne Clemons Quintet
Sun, 10PM to 11:30 PM - The Legendary Johnny O'Neal
SmallsLIVE Interview BLOG
Interesting and insightful interviews with the artists that perform at Smalls Jazz Club.
Interviewed by bassist Spencer Murphy - these interviews shed light on the thought process of the musicians and their relationship to Smalls.
The New York Jazz Record on Will Vinson: Live at Smalls
"Vinson is refreshingly edgy and not afraid to get himself dirty...Vinson’s Live at Smalls is a piece of vibrant NYC jazz at its best."
"Venues that promote inventiveness among diverse young musicians is what thankfully keeps the rest of jazz from becoming “America’s Classical musicâ€. Central to this is Smalls and its smallsLIVE series, which best captures NYC’s jazz heartbeat." - Elliott Simon
SmallsLIVE now on HDtracks!
SmallsLIVE can now be heard in true, high definition. Check out our studio quality master recordings, exclusively on HDtracks (www.hdtracks.com)
FREE LIVE VIDEO Wednesday, August 14th
ALL DAY & NIGHT
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, August 12th
7:30 PM to 9:45 PM - The Jerome Sabbagh/Pete Rende Duo Jerome Sabbagh - Tenor Sax , Pete Rende - Piano 10:00 PM to 12:30 AM - The Ari Hoenig Trio Ari Hoenig - Drums , Johannes Weidenmuller - Bass , Shai Maestro - Piano 12:30 AM to close - Afterhours with: Spencer Murphy Spencer Murphy - Bass ,
Tuesday, August 13th
7:30 PM to 9:45 PM - The Spike Wilner Trio 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, August 14th
6:00 PM to 8:45 PM - Tap Dance Jam! Hosted by Michela Lerman Michela Marino Lerman - Tap Dancer , 9:30 PM to 12:00 AM - SHIFT feat. Logan Richardson Logan Richardson - Alto Sax , Sullivan Fortner - Piano , Harish Raghavan - Bass , Tommy Crane - Drums 11:30 PM to close - "Round Midnight" with: The Craig Wuepper Trio and "Earsight" Craig Wuepper - Drums , Paul Odeh - Piano , Essiet Essiet - Bass
Thursday, August 15th
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 - SHIFT feat. Logan Richardson Tommy Crane - Drums , Logan Richardson - Alto Sax , Harish Raghavan - Bass , Sullivan Fortner - Piano Midnight to Close - "Round Midnight" with: The Carlos Abadie Quintet Joe Sucato - Tenor Sax , Theo Hill - Piano , Clovis Nicolas - Bass , Luca Santaniello - Drums , Carlos Abadie - Trumpet ,
Friday, August 16th
7:30 PM to 10:00 PM - The Pete Malinverni Trio Pete Malinverni - Piano , Ugonna Okegwo - Bass , Steve Williams - 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 AM - The John Marshall Quintet Grant Stewart - Tenor Sax , John Marshall - Trumpet , Tardo Hammer - Piano , Jimmy Wormworth - Drums , David Wong - Bass 1:15 AM to Close - Afterhours with: Lawrence Leathers Lawrence Leathers - Drums ,
Saturday, August 17th
4:00 PM to 7:00 PM - The "Early Bird" Session hosted by: The Dwayne Clemons Quintet Jimmy Wormworth - Drums , Sacha Perry - Piano , Dwayne Clemons - Trumpet , Josh Benko - Alto Sax , Murray Wall - Bass 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM - The Nick Hempton Band "Odd Man Out" CD Release Nick Hempton - Alto Sax , Dan Aran - Drums , Art Hirahara - Piano , Marco Panascia - Bass , Michael Dease - Trombone 10:30 PM to 1:00 AM - The John Marshall Quintet John Marshall - Trumpet , Grant Stewart - Tenor Sax , Tardo Hammer - Piano , David Wong - Bass , Jimmy Wormworth - Drums 1:00 AM to close - Afterhours with: Philip Harper Philip Harper - Trumpet ,
Sunday, August 18th
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 John Merrill Trio John Merrill - Guitar , George Delancy - Bass 7:30 PM to 9:45 PM - The Ehud Asherie Trio Ehud Asherie - Piano , 10:00 PM to 11:30 PM - The Legendary Johnny O'Neal Johnny O'Neal - Piano , 11:30 PM to close - "Round Midnight" with: The Jeb Patton Trio Jeb Patton - Piano , David Wong - Bass , Rodney Green - Drums
