SmallsLIVE/Mezzrow Newsletter - Birthday Reflections

SmallsLIVE & Mezzrow Newsletter - June 19th, 2017

A star at dawn, a bubble in a stream,
A flash of lightening in a summer cloud,
A flickering lamp, a phantom, and a dream
So you should view this fleeting world --
Buddha, The Diamond Sutra

It’s my birthday and I can’t help but think of mortality. The ephemeral moments pile into a huge mountain of moments, stratified by memories of friends gone by, places seen, great events experienced - woven together continuously until this very moment, now! My life. Our lives…

Being old may be the last real taboo in our society. We become sheepish and self-effacing when speaking of it. We become embarrassed to reveal our ages. Somehow “old” and “young” together has a perverse connotation in our society. But I strongly believe that being “old” is a complete crock of shit. To me a person is as young as their mindset. A strong mind is a young mind and this is most evident in our own field of Jazz Music. Take for example Harold Mabern who is 81 and plays piano with the intensity of a force of nature. He hangs out with abandon, like a kid one quarter of his age. Or my beloved teacher Barry Harris, now 87 and still a regular presence on the New York scene, teaching and playing with a profundity that is as rare as Diamonds.

We had Toshiko Akiyoshi at Mezzrow this week. If you don’t know her name I suggest Googling her to discover a true jazz legend and multi Grammy winner. She is a historical jazz figure – she was close friends with Hampton Hawes, who mentions her prominently in his great autobiography, Raise Up Off Me. Having her play at Mezzrow was a great honor for me. Toshiko is now 87 and fierce. Her set was pure Bebop and rang of authenticity, swing and great energy. On the break I put on a Bud Powell record which she immediately recognized and got very excited. We discussed the record just like two music students back at the conservatory – ageless. At the end of the evening I brought her fee to her, the money we had agreed on. She shook her head no - she didn’t want to take it. She felt there wasn't enough people in attendance at the show to justify getting paid. I smiled and urged her to take it. I tried to assure her that it was my pleasure to have her at Mezzrow and the money was rightfully hers. She flatly refused and said, please just pay the bass player. I tried once more to shove the dough into her hands - flat out no! I was stunned by her generosity – I can’t think of the last time that any artist in either venue refused their pay on account of the club's well being. Astonishing and inspiring. No age limit – just Humanity, moment to moment.

Peace and Blessings to everyone – I hope to see you all at the clubs.

Spike

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Monday - 6/19
The Rafal Sarnecki Sextet
Sets at 7:30 PM & 9 PM
with Rafal Sanecki - Guitar, Lucas Pino - Tenor Sax, Glenn Zaleski - Piano, Bogna Kicinska - Vocalist, Rick Rosato - Bass, Jerad Lippi - Drums

Monday - 6/19
The Ari Hoenig Quartet
Sets at 10:30 PM & 12 AM
with Ari Hoenig - Drums, Gilad Hekselman - Guitar, Shai Maestro - Piano, Orlando Le Fleming - Bass

Tuesday - 6/20
The Lucas Pino Nonet
Sets at 7:30 PM & 9 PM
with Lucas Pino - Tenor Sax, Matthew Jodrell - Trumpet, Alex LoRe - Alto Sax, Robert Edwards - Trombone, Andrew Gutauskas - Baritone Sax, Rafal Sarnecki - Guitar, Glenn Zaleski - Piano, Desmond White - Bass, Colin Stranahan - Drums

Tuesday - 6/20
The Abraham Burton Quartet
Sets at 10:30 PM & 12 AM
with Abraham Burton - Tenor Sax

Wednesday - 6/21
The Jure Pukl Quartet
Sets at 7:30 PM & 9 PM
with Jure Pukl - Tenor Sax, Luis Perdomo - Piano, Rick Rosato - Bass, Kush Abadey - Drums

Wednesday - 6/21
The Joe Farnsworth Trio
Sets at 10:30 PM & 12 AM
with Joe Farnworth - Drums, Dave Kikoski - Piano, Corcoran Holt - Bass

Thursday - 6/22
Holophonor
Sets at 7:30 PM & 9 PM
with Dave Robaire - Bass, Mike Cottone - Trumpet, Josh Johnson - Alto Sax, Eric Miller - Trombone, Miro Sprague - Piano, Jonathan Pinson - Drums

Thursday - 6/22
The Asaf Yuria Quintet
Sets at 10:30 PM & 12 AM
with Asaf Yuria - Tenor Sax, Josh Evans - Trumpet, Ben Meigners - Bass, Jeremy Manasia - Piano, Jason Brown - Drums

Friday - 6/23
Joshua Breakstone's "Cello Trio"
Sets at 7:30 PM & 9 PM
$20 for this show
with Joshua Breakstone - Guitar

Saturday - 6/24
Ralph Lalama & "Bop-Juice"
Sets at 7:30 PM & 9 PM
$20 for this show
with Ralph Lalama - Tenor Sax, Alec Safy - Bass, Clifford Barbaro - Drums

Friday & Saturday - 6/23-24
The Mike DiRubbo Quartet
Sets at 10:30 PM & 12 AM
$20 for this show
with Mike DiRubbo - Alto Sax, Bruce Barth - Piano, Ugonna Okegwo - Bass, JK Kim - Drums