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SmallsLIVE/Mezzrow Newsletter
July 8th, 2019
 
I had lunch with my friend Jed Eisenman a few days ago.  Jed is a modest and unassuming guy who also happens to be the general manager of The Village Vanguard.  It's always great for me to meet up with him and pick his brain.  The Village Vanguard is the mother of all jazz clubs and it's wonderful to have insight into how it's run, how it's booked and how the business operates.  Jed and Deborah Gordon (daughter of Max and Lorraine Gordon) now run the club together and have always been super supportive of Smalls and Mezzrow.  I remember inviting them to see the space at Mezzrow before we officially opened to get their blessings.  They dropped by and had a look around.  They were generally enthusiastic until they saw how I had placed my tables and chairs in the room.  I had it arranged for about 24 seats.  They clucked their tongues disapprovingly and then in a flash re-arranged the room for me.  Miraculously the room could now hold 40 seats.  Real club experience, each seat a vital asset and not to be squandered.  

Jed would tell me stories about Max Gordon and some of his other business ventures and the way he interacted with the musicians and his public.  One thing that Jed said struck me hard.  He said, "...funny thing is that Max thought it (the Vanguard) was actually a magic underground place that he had discovered!"  Jed laughed when he said it but it hit me as something serious.  Mitch Borden had always said the same thing about Smalls and I also feel the same way - there's something magical here.  Manhattan is a mysterious place, a sacred spot revered by the Native Americans that lived here - a place of great spiritual power.  Something is happening underground like a power source.  Smalls is like that, this weird energy that exists there and has always been there.  Smalls was once the site of the original Cafe Wha? and Hendrix himself supposedly played in the room that is now Smalls.  In the 20's Smalls was a secret speakeasy and the tunnel to covertly enter (although now walled off) still exists behind the stage.  Often when I play at Smalls myself I feel recharged, electric and vibey.  Mezzrow, too, is underground and has that special energy.  The Vanguard, Smalls and Mezzrow  are a mysterious underground triangle in the heart of the Village.

The Vanguard has survived more than 80 years.  Smalls is now 25 and baby Mezzrow just 5 years old.  All have the same kind of intensity and commitment.  Jazz is electric and fuel by the power of the soul.  Our secret and sacred temples are still here for anyone to enter, to revere and to absorb the power of this music.  Please join us, plug in and recharge those batteries.  You'll definitely feel better.

Regards,

Spike


 

Monday - 7/8
Kyoko Oyobe, Michael O'Brien & Andrew Atkinson

Pianist Kyoko Oyobe returns to Mezzrow with her band, join her and her trio featuring pianist Michael O'Brien & Andrew Atkinson on drums. 

 Doors @ 7 PM
Seatings at 7:30 and 9 PM

Pasquale Grasso @ 10:30 PM & 12AM

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

Tuesday - 7/9
Jay Clayton, Frank Kimbrough & Jay Anderson

Vocalist Jay Clayton returns to the Mezzrow stage with pianist Frank Kimbrough & bassist Jay Anderson for a night of trio.

 Doors @ 7 PM
Seatings at 7:30 and 9 PM

Vocalist Naama Gheber @ 10:30 PM & 12

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

Wednesday - 7/10
Sam Yahel & Will Vinson

Pianist Sam Yahel returns to Mezzrow for an evening in our acoustic room with saxophonist Will Vinson for a night of duets.

 Doors @ 7 PM
Seatings at 7:30 and 9 PM

Corin Stiggall, Steve Ash & Taro Okamoto @ 10:30 PM & 12

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

Thursday - 7/11
Mike Longo & Paul West

Pianist Mike Longo is a jazz legend having worked with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie.  With him is the veteran bassist Paul West.

 Doors @ 7 PM
Seatings at 7:30 and 9 PM

Spike Wilner & Pasquale Grasso @ 10:30 PM & 12 AM

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

Friday & Saturday - 7/12-/713
Adam Birnbaum, Ed Howard & Al Foster

Pianist Adam Birnbaum has rapidly risen to the top of the piano field in New York City.  He has an amazing technique and a true jazz feeling. He brings his trio to Mezzrow featuring the great Al Foster on drums & Ed Howard on bass.

 Doors @ 7 PM
Seatings at 7:30 and 9 PM
7/12 - Gabrielle Stravelli, Michael Kanan & Pat O'Leary @ 10:30 PM & 12:00 AM
7/13 - Jeremy Manasia @ 10:30 PM & 12:00 AM


To advance purchase a reserved seat click:
7/12 - CLICK HERE TO RESERVE
7/13 - CLICK HERE TO RESERVE  

Sunday - 7/14
Solo Piano Salon - No Cover

Join pianist Spike Wilner for an afternoon of solo piano, there is no cover charge for this performance.

 Doors @ 4:30 PM
Spike Wilner from 5 PM until 6:45 PM

Thursday - 7/14
Nate Radley & Gary Versace

Join guitarist Nate Radley and pianist Gary Versace for an evening of duo.

 Doors @ 7 PM
Seatings at 7:30 and 9 PM

Guitarist Panas Athanatos @ 10:30 PM & 12 AM

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

Monday - 7/8
Joel Frahm Trio

 Sets at 7:30 PM & 9 PM
     with Joel Frahm - Tenor Sax, Omer Avital - Bass, Mark Ferber - Drums
 
Monday - 7/8
Rodney Green Quartet

 Sets at 10:30 PM & 12 AM
with Rodney Green - Drums, Dylan Band - Tenor Sax, Victor Gould - Piano, Tyrone Allen - Bass
 
Monday - 7/8
After-hours Jam Session

1 AM to close
     with Sean Mason - Piano, Butler Knowles - Bass, Malcolm Charles - Drums
 
Tuesday - 7/9
Justin Robinson Quartet
 Sets at 7:30 PM & 9 PM
with Justin Robinson - Alto Sax, Sharp Radway - Piano, Santi Debriano - Bass, Taru Alexander - Drums
Tuesday - 7/9
Abraham Burton Quartet

 Sets at 10:30 PM & 12 AM
with Abraham Burton - Tenor Sax, David Bryant - Piano, Dezron Douglas - Bass, Eric McPherson - Drums
 
Tuesday - 7/9
After-hours Jam Session
 1 AM to close
with Jon Elbaz - Piano, James Robbins - Bass, Kayvon Gordon - Drums
Wednesday - 7/10
Josh Lawrence "Color Theory"
 Sets at 7:30 PM & 9 PM

with Josh Lawrence - Trumpet, Caleb Curtis - Alto Sax, Julius Rodriguez - Piano, Alexander Claffy - Bass, Anwar Marshall - Drums
Wednesday - 7/10
Jay Rodriguez Trio
 Sets at 10:30 PM & 12 AM
with Jay Rodriguez - Tenor Sax, Alex Blake - Bass, Victor Jones - Drums
Wednesday - 7/10
Julius Rodriguez Trio "After-hours"
 1 AM to close
with Julius Rodriguez - Piano
Thursday - 7/11
Chip White Dedications Sextet
 Sets at 7:30 PM & 9 PM

with Chip White – Drums, Eli Asher – Trumpet, Patience Higgins – Baritone Sax,  
Sam Burtis – Trombone, Michael Cochrane – Piano, Matthew Parrish - Bass
Thursday - 7/11
Asaf Yuria Exorcisms Sextet
Sets at 10:30 PM & 12 AM
with Asaf Yuria - Tenor Sax, Josh Evans - Trumpet, Jonathan Peled - Trombone, Jeremy Manasia - Piano, Ben Meigners - Bass, Jason Brown - Drums
Thursday - 7/11
Mimi Jones & The Lab Session "After-hours"
1 AM to close

with Mimi Jones - Bass
Friday & Saturday - 7/12-7/13
Sylvia Cuenca Quartet
Sets at 7:30 PM & 9 PM

$20 for this show
with Sylvia Cuenca - Drums, Ralph Bowen - Tenor Sax, David Gilmore - Guitar, Jared Gold - Organ
Friday & Saturday - 7/12-7/13
EJ Strickland Quintet
plus Aimee Allen
Sets at 10:30 PM & 12 AM

$20 for this show
with EJ Strickland - Drums, Aimee Allen - Vocalist, Jaleel Shaw - Alto Sax, Samir Zarif - Tenor Sax, Luis Perdomo - Piano, Eric Wheeler - Drums
Friday - 7/12
Wallace Roney Jr. "After-hours"
1 AM to close

with  Wallace Roney Jr. - Trumpet
Saturday - 7/13
Brooklyn Circle "After-hours"
1 AM to close

with Stacy Dillard - Tenor Sax, Diallo House - Bass, Ismail Lawal - Drums
Sunday - 7/14
Grant Stewart Quartet
 Sets at 7:30 PM & 9 PM

with Grant Stewart - Tenor Sax, Tardo Hammer - Piano, Dezron Douglas - Bass, Phil Stewart - Drums
Thursday - 7/14
Nick Hempton Band
Sets at 10:30 PM & 12 AM
with Nick Hempton - Tenor Sax, Mark Whitfield - Guitar,  Kyle Koehler - Organ, Fukushi Tainaka - Drums
Saturday - 7/14
After-hours Jam Session
1 AM to close

with Hillel Salem - Trumpet, Alon Near - Bass
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