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             NEWSLETTER & SCHEDULE
May 4th, 2015
Dear Friends:

Welcome from sunny Vancouver where I am finishing off the SmallsLIVE Presents tour that I've been on all week.  It's been a great pleasure on many levels.  On a personal tip it's been amazing to spend a week on the road with three of my oldest friends and bandmates - Peter Bernstein, Joe Magnarelli and Grant Stewart.  All three are great musicians and bandleaders as well as philosophisers and passionate students of the music.  Besides the joke telling and horsing around, there's been wonderful discussions on the state of jazz and particularly the style we find most beloved, that is Bebop, which we all feel has been maligned and misrepresented.  It's been refreshing and exhilarating to be received by sold-out houses and informed fans, who know about our work and know about Smalls.  People from all over who watch the live stream from the club, follow the careers of the Smalls musicians and appreciate the work we do.

I want to mention the people and places who made the tour possible:  My thanks to Danny Kolke and his beautiful club Boxley's.  Danny, like myself, is a pianist and club owner and plays each Sunday at his own spot.  I want to thank Matt Jorgensen and Thomas Marrio and the very cool club called Tula's.  Both those guys are great jazz musicians and presenters.  I want to thank Julian MacDonough, who also played drums on the tour, and the Whatcom Jazz Music and Arts Center.  I want to thank Kareem Kandi, also a fine musician, and the super-hip B Sharp Coffee House.  I especially want to than Cory Weeds for putting the whole thing together and for our concerts at the Shadbolt Center for the Arts in Vancouver.  Cory Weeds the owner of the former Cellar is a great musician, label owner and jazz presenter and a friend to Smalls and the New York scene.

What really struck me during this tour was how grassroots jazz really is.  Jazz music has passionate fans and is strong all over the world.  The thing is that presenting jazz is a work of love and not something that lends itself well to big institutions.  It takes local guys like Cory, Danny and the rest to be passionate enough about the music to, often at their own expense, organize and finance jazz concerts for their respective communities.  I've seen the same thing in Europe when I've traveled to France, Spain and Italy - grassroots organization to present music a a eager and receptive audience that needs this music.  It's a beautiful thing to see when communities come together to share in the arts and music.  It brings everyone closer together.  Jazz audiences in general seem to have a lot in common: intelligence, creativity and spiritual dispositions and everywhere I go where there is jazz there is soulfulness and real humanity.

My thanks to those guys and to my dear friends - PLANET JAZZ, boys!

I hope to see everyone at the clubs this week.

Peace,

Spike

 
NOW: A cover paid at Mezzrow also gets you admission to Smalls.
 
Mezzrow proudly endorses Steinway pianos

Monday - 5/4
The Chris Flory Trio

Guitarist Chris Flory is a lyrical master of the guitar and the Great American Songbook.  Don't miss this evening with Chris and his trio.

John Merrill Solo Guitar @ 7:30 PM
Trio sets @ 9 PM and 10:30 PM

To advance purchase a reserved seat click:
CLICK HERE TO RESERVE

Tuesday - 5/5
Evan Christopher & Ehud Asherie

Evan Christopher is a virtuostic clarinetist deep from the heart of the New Orlean's tradition.  He makes a rare appearance at Mezzrow in duets with the swinging piano of Ehud Asherie.

Doors open @ 7 PM
Duo sets @ 8 PM & 9:30 PM

Mezzrow "polite jam session" @ 10:30 PM

To advance purchase a reserved seat click:
CLICK HERE TO RESERVE

Wednesday, Thursday - 5/6-7
Richard Johnson & Ben Wolfe

Pittsburg native Richard Johnson is known for his work with Lincoln Center and Russell Malone.  He has a strong connection to the tradition of the music and a strong swing feel.  With him is bassist Ben Wolfe to hold down the quarter notes.

 Happy Hour Solo Piano @ 7:30 PM
Duo sets @ 9 PM & 10:30 PM

Mezzrow "polite jam session" @ 11:30 PM

To advance purchase a reserved seat click:
WED - CLICK HERE TO RESERVE
THU - CLICK HERE TO RESERVE

Friday, Saturday - 5/8-9
Todd Coolman & Bill Mays

Bassist Todd Coolman and pianist Bill Mays are seasoned veterans of the jazz scene with credential sheets yards long.  Both play the American Standard Songbook with beauty, grace and swing.  Don't miss this rare opportunity to hear these "musician's musicians" perform in our intimate music room.

 Happy Hour Solo Piano @ 7:30 PM
Duo sets @ 9 PM & 10:30 PM

Jon Davis Solo Piano @ 11:30 PM

To advance purchase a reserved seat click:
FRI - CLICK HERE TO RESERVE
SAT - CLICK HERE TO RESERVE

 Sunday - 5/10
Eli Degibri & Kevin Hays
  • Israeli tenor saxophonist Eli Degibri makes his Mezzrow debut performing an evening of duets with the pianist Kevin Hays.

    Saul Rubin solo guitar @ 7:30 PM
    Duo sets @ 9 PM & 10:30 PM

    To advance purchase a reserved seat click:
    CLICK HERE TO RESERVE

THIS WEEK AT SMALLS
(a selection of featured shows)

For our full schedule please go to www.smallslive.com

Monday - 5/4
Michael Valeanu Band
"Hard To Cook" CD Release

Sets at 7:30 PM & 9 PM
  w. Eden Ladin - Piano, Michael Valeanu - Guitar, Rick Rosato - Bass, Jake Goldbas - Drums

Guitarist Michael Valeanu debuts his new CD "Hard to Cook" with a great band.
Monday - 5/4
Joel Frahm Trio
Sets at 10:30 PM & 12 AM

w. Joel Frahm - Tenor Sax, Omer Avital - Bass, Anthony Pinciotti - Drums

Joel Frahm is a beloved figure on the scene - a ferocious monster of pure love.  Come out and share the evening with him.
Tuesday - 5/5
Smalls Legacy Band
Feat. Frank Lacy

 Sets at 9:30 PM & 11 PM

w. Stacy Dillard - Tenor Sax, Josh Evans - Trumpet, Theo Hill - Piano, Ameen Saleem - Bass, Frank Lacy - Trombone, Kush Abadey - Drums
Wednesday - 5/6
Melissa Aldana Quartet
Sets at 7:30 PM & 9 PM
 w. Melissa Aldana - Tenor Sax, Nitzan Gavrieli - Piano, Pablo Menares - Bass, Jochen Rueckert - Drums

Tenor saxophonist Melissa Aldana has been getting rave reception world-wide.  She comes in tonight featuring the drumming work of Jochen Ruekert.
Wednesday - 5/6
Noah Preminger Group
Sets at 10:30 PM & 12 AM
 w. Jason Palmer - Trumpet, Noah Preminger - Tenor Sax, Ben Monder - Guitar, Kim Cass - Bass, Rudy Royston - Drums

Noah Preminger has a gruff sound and a modern thinking pallette.  With him is the amazing Ben Monder on guitar and the fantastic Rudy Royston on drums.
Thursday - 5/7
Ben Van Gelder Quartet
featuring Mark Turner
Sets at 7:30 PM & 9 PM

w. Ben van Gelder - Alto Sax, Mark Turner - Tenor Sax, Matt Brewer - Bass, Craig Weinrib - Drums

Ben Van Gelder is a modernist with a interesting slant on improvisation and a great book.  With him is the wonderful Mark Turner for an evening of music.
Thursday - 5/7
The Nick Hempton Band
Sets at 10:30 PM & 12 AM

 w. Nick Hempton - Alto Sax, Dan Aran - Drums,
Tadataka Unno - Piano, Dave Baron - Bass

Nick Hempton is one of the hardest swinging tenor players in the business.  He comes in with the stellar pianist Tada Unno.
Friday - 5/8
Ralph Lalama & "Bop-Juice"
Sets at 7:30 PM & 9 PM
$20 for this show
w.Clifford Barbaro - Drums, Ralph Lalama - Tenor Sax, Mike Karn - Bass

Ralph Lalama is a legend and an institution in New York - a keeper of the hardbop flame.  With him is the legendary Clifford Barbaro on drums.
Friday, Saturday - 5/8-9
Stafford Hunter Quintet
feat. vocalist Emma Larsson

Sets at 10:30 PM & 12 AM

$20 for this show
 w. Stafford Hunter - Trombone, Emma Larsson - Vocalist, Benito Gonzalez - Piano, Alex Hernandez - Bass, Willard Dyson - Drums

Trombonist Stafford Hunter returns to Smalls for the weekend with his excellent group that showcases vocalist Emma Larson.
Saturday - 5/9
Tardo Hammer Trio
Sets at 7:30 PM & 9 PM
 w. Tardo Hammer - Piano, Lee Hudson - Bass, Jimmy Wormworth - Drums

Tardo Hammer is a musician's musician.  A veteran player with a lovely touch and a searching line.  With him is the drum legend Jimmy Wormworth.
Sunday - 5/10
Emilio Solla Y La Inestable
de Brooklyn

Sets at 4:30 PM & 6 PM
 w. Victor Prieto - Accordian, Emilio Solla - Piano, John Bailey - Trumpet, John Ellis - Tenor Sax, Jorge Roeder - Bass, Dave Silliman - Drums, Peter Brainin - Tenor Sax, Ryan Keberle - Trombone

 

 

Sunday - 5/10
Sole-ful Sunday Tap Show
with Michela Lerman

Sets at 7:30 PM & 9 PM
w. Michela Marino Lerman - Tap Dancer

Tap dance master Michela Lerman comes to Smalls with her tap dance revue of dancing and jazz music.

 

SMALLS JAZZ CLUB REGULAR SHOWS

Monday - 5/4, 1 AM to close
Afterhours with Jonathan Michel

 

Tuesday - 5/5, 12:30 AM to close 
The Spike Wilner Band

 

Tuesday - 5/5, 12:30 AM to close 
The Next Generation Sessions with Kyle Poole


Wednesday - 5/6, 1:30 AM to close 
Afterhours Jam Session with Sanah Kadoura

 

Thursday - 5/7, 1:30 AM to close 
Afterhours Jam Session

 

Friday - 5/8, 4:30 PM to 7 PM
Friday afternoon open jam session With :

 

Friday - 5/8, 1:15 AM
Friday Afterhours With :
Jeremy Manasia


Saturday - 5/9, 4 PM to 7 PM
Saturday Afternoon Open Jam Session
With : Jonathan Thomas Trio


Saturday - 5/9, 1:30 AM to close
Afterhours with Philip Harper

Sunday - 5/3, 1 PM to 3 PM
Vocal Masterclass with Marion Cowings 
$20 entry, $40 to participate

ENJOY SmallsLIVE records!

Find them on www.smallslive.com

     


                  

                   

 
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