SmallsLIVE/Mezzrow Newsletter: "I Remember Roy", Nov 4th

SmallsLIVE/Mezzrow Newsletter

Dear Friends:

The flag of Jazz flies at half-mast. Bitter tears roll down my cheek and soak my keyboard as I write these words. The world has lost Roy Hargrove this weekend and with him an untold treasure of musical knowledge and indomitable spiritual force. It is a gaping wound to our Jazz community and one that will not be filled again anytime soon. Roy, as his name implies, was the king. A quiet and wise king that ruled with his horn. He led by example with a modest, workman's tenacity, night after night. Regardless of his challenging health issues, he was unstoppable. Hanging and playing night after night, sharing with us and guiding. He was a traditionalist and played from a place of purity - pure jazz, pure bebop, melodicism and grace, swing and romance. Full of the true blues feeling, there was no one that could represent our music more or give more.

I was fortunate to be able to call him a friend and to have had the chance to play with him. Over the last few months, we played gigs at Mezzrow unannounced. My "dream team" trumpet front line - Roy Hargrove and Joe Magnarelli playing our after hours to a delighted crowd. It was informal. Roy would just start playing a tune and, whether we knew it or not, we would join in and try our best. If we really couldn't get it he would simply smile and laugh and we'd try something else. Zero pretense and just pure jazz. On the breaks, in the back room, he would express to me his concern for the current state of affairs of jazz - where was it going? He was concerned about the aesthetic. He was all about the tunes, the music, the phrase, beauty and taste. He was generous with the young cats and he did not suffer fools lightly. An intimidating presence and yet, so easy to play with. Such musicality.

In the battle against mediocrity, he was a hero. In an insipid society hostile to art, he was a shining light. This is a loss that we can not take lightly but must rally behind and unify in our resolve to not lose our focus. As jazz musicians, we must gird ourselves and take up the flag. We must keep our inspiration and not fall into chaos. Jazz must live and the tradition of our heroes must be served. Goodbye Roy Hargrove, you are now in your rightful place in the pantheon of legends. Rest In Power.

My love to all,
Spike

Monday - 11/5
Joel Frahm Trio
Sets at 7:30 PM & 9 PM
with Joel Frahm - Tenor Sax, Doug Weiss - Bass, Anthony Pinciotti - Drums

Monday - 11/5
Jonathan Barber Quartet
Sets at 10:30 PM & 12 AM
with Jonathan Barber - Drums, Micah Thomas - Piano, Mike Moreno - Guitar, Matt Dwonszyk - Bass

Monday - 11/5
Jon Elbaz Trio "After-hours"
1 AM to close
with Jon Elbaz - Piano, Alec Safy - Bass, Dan Nadeau - Drums

Tuesday - 11/6
Spike Wilner Trio
Sets at 7:30 PM & 9 PM
with Spike Wilner - Piano

Tuesday - 11/6
Frank Lacy Group
Sets at 10:30 PM & 12 AM
with Frank Lacy - Trombone

Tuesday - 11/6
Malik McLaurine Trio "After-hours"
1 AM to close
with Malik McLaurine - Bass, Julius Rodriguez - Piano

Wednesday - 11/7
Loren Stillman & Steve Cardenas Quartet
feat. Ben Allison & Matt Wilson
Sets at 7:30 PM & 9 PM
with Loren Stillman - Alto Sax, Steve Cardenas - Guitar, Ben Allison - Bass, Matt Wilson - Drums

Wednesday - 11/7
Sam Dillon Quartet
Sets at 10:30 PM & 12 AM
with Sam Dillon - Tenor Sax, Peter Zak - Piano, David Wong - Bass, Pete Zimmer - Drums

Wednesday - 11/7
Giveton Gelin "After-hours"
1 AM to close
with Giveton Gelin - Trumpet

Thursday - 11/8
Carl Bartlett Jr. Quartet
Sets at 7:30 PM & 9 PM
with Carl Bartlett Jr. - Alto Sax, James Navan - Piano, Steve Wood - Bass, Will Terrill - Drums

Thursday - 11/8
Brian Melvin's Sacred Geometry
Sets at 10:30 PM & 12 AM
with Brian Melvin - Drums, Danny Walsh - Tenor Sax, Kenny Brooks - Tenor Sax, Dred Scott - Piano, Arthur Kell - Bass

Thursday - 11/8
Julius Rodriguez Trio "After-hours"
1 AM to close
with Julius Rodriguez - Drums, Morgan Guerin - Tenor Sax, Philip Norris - Bass

Friday & Saturday - 11/9-11/10
Mike Boone Quintet
Sets at 7:30 PM & 9 PM
$20 for this show
with Mike Boone - Bass, Elliot Bild - Trumpet, Hiruy Tirfe - Tenor Sax, James Santangelo - Piano, Mekhi Boone - Drums

Friday & Saturday - 11/9-11/10
The Flail
Sets at 10:30 PM & 12 AM
$20 for this show
with Dan Blankinship - Piano, Stephan Moutot - Tenor Sax, Brian Marsella - Piano, Reid Taylor - Bass, Charles Goold - Drums

Friday - 11/9
Corey Wallace DUBtet "After-hours"
1 AM to close
with Corey Wallace - Trombone

Saturday - 11/10
Smalls Showcase:
Jon Roche & Friends
Sets at 4:30 PM & 6 PM
with Jon Roche - Bass, Roman Ivanoff - Piano, Stefano Doglioni - Clarinet, Clifford Barbaro - Drums

Saturday - 11/10
Brooklyn Circle
1 AM to close
with Stacy Dillard - Tenor Sax, Diallo House - Bass, Ismail Lawal - Drums

Sunday - 11/11
Vocal Masterclass
with Marion Cowings
from 1:00 PM until 3 PM
The Marion Cowings Jazz Vocal Workshop is a weekly session that gives vocalists a forum to develop the elements that define a jazz vocal performance.

Sunday - 11/11
Fat Cat Big Band
swings the work of J.S. Bach, Strayhorn, Ellington & Synstelien
Sets at 7:30 PM & 9 PM
with Jade Synstelian - Guitar, Dan Blankinship - Trumpet, Brandon Lee - Trumpet, Max Seigel - Trombone, James Burton III - Trombone Jon Beshay - Soprano Sax, Caleb Curtis - Alto Sax, Stacy Dillard - Tenor Sax, Jack Glottman - Piano, Alexi David - Bass, Phil Stewart - Drums

Sunday - 11/11
Tim McCall Quintet
Sets at 10:30 PM & 12 AM
with Tim McCall - Tenor Sax, Chelsea Baratz - Tenor Sax, Spike Wilner - Piano, Phil Palombi - Bass, Fukushi Tainaka - Drums

Sunday - 11/11
Alon Near Trio "After-hours"
1 AM to close
with Alon Near - Bass, Takeshi Ohbayashi - Piano, Adam Arruda - Drums

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