Our SmallsLIVE Catalog has grown considerably in the last 5 years. I am quite proud of the work and the results. Next week we are about to release 4 new titles (I'll wait until next week's blast to announce them) but we now have 40 titles in our catalog. All with beautiful art, thanks to photographer/designer Michelle Watt.
One thing that's become clear over the last 5 or 6 years however, is that the idea of the conventional record company simply no longer applies. There's very little market for CD's or physical products. Digital downloads have not taken up the slack left by the huge hole in the CD market. Many record companies have gone belly-up because the modern paradigm, which is simply to own and share thousands of digital recordings on a single player, doesn't work in an industry that was created to sell individual pieces of vinyl. Honestly, I can't say that I'm too sad to see this system go. It was a "Master & Slave" arrangement where the companies owned the projects and the artists got little in return. Sidemen on the dates got even less and never residuals. In this modern age where every smartphone has a video/recording device, recordings have no inherent value. So it's time for a new approach to the recording business. I envision a partnership environment between the company and the artists - a 50/50 true partnership. I have ideas on how to make this work, particularly with SmallsLIVE. In the next few month I'll be publicly discussing these ideas and how I'll be implementing them. I feel strongly that SmallsLIVE can define a new era of mutually beneficial label/artist partnerships. As always, we are committed to the music and the artists first.
I gave an interview with Professor Eugene Marlow for his blog on this topic. If you'd like to read the interview PLEASE CLICK HERE.
This week, we start our Monday off with an amazing double feature starting with a solo guitar concert from Peter Bernstein. Peter is one of the most lyrical and engaging players of our generation. Following him is the pianist Aaron Parks who will be coming in with Ben Street on bass and RJ Miller on drums. This is sure to be a joyful union of jazz creation. Following Aaron is bassist Spencer Murphy who has led the Monday afterhours for years now. Take the opportunity to stay all night and feast on this music. Also, be sure to check out our SmallsLIVE Interview Blog that is run by Spencer. This week he interviews Aaron Parks for an engaging dialogue.
Wednesday and Thursday we have invited the trumpetist Diego Urcola to come in with his group that includes the truly great Conrad Herwig on trombone, Alex Brown on piano, Luques Curtis on bass, Eric Doob on drums and Paulo Stagnaro on percussion. Diego is an "old-school" Smalls alum who used to play quite a bit with Jason Lindner's group and Omer Avital back at the old Smalls. We're very happy to have him back. Our "Round Midnight" Concert on Wednesday features a fantastic young trumpet player - John Raymond who is coming in with the equally fantastic guitarist Gilad Hekselman, Joe Martin on bass and Austin Walker on drums. Be sure to catch this great night of music. If you can't make it to the club please remember that Wednesdays are our "free video" night - just go to our site and clicl "LIVE VIDEO" - there's no paywall on Wednesdays.
This weekend we are featuring a number of great New York jazz veterans. On Friday at 7:30 we have the amazing David Schnitter and his quartet which features Spike Wilner (me) on piano, Ugonna Okegwo on bass and Anthony Pinciotti on drums. David will be celebrating his "Live At Smalls" CD (please see the review below in our SmallsLIVE in the News section). On Saturday at 7:30 PM we have the great John Eckert leading his nonet with David Smith, Bobby Porcelli, Joe McDonough, Noah Bless, Terry Goss, Tim Harrison, Yasushi Nakamura & Jeff Brillinger. Veterans all and all top-shelf. For the 10:30 PM show we are showcasing our home-town hero Ralph LaLama and a quartet that you don't hear too often - Helmut Kagerer on guitar, Andy McKee on bass and Bernd Reiter on drums. Ralph is also celebrating his "Live At Smalls" CD on our label.
This Sunday come out in the afternoon for our goodbye party for Jon Roche who is going off on a 6 month gig. Following that at 7:30 PM is the beautiful and talented Marianne Solivan singing with the consumate pianist Mike Kanan. Following Johnny O'Neal is the amazing Dmitry Baevsky and his quartet with Jeb Patton, David Wong and Joe Strasser - a great way to end your Sunday evening.
As always, I appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you at the club.
Best Regards,
Spike Wilner
4/15
Peter Bernstein
Solo Guitar
7:30 PM to 9:30 PM
Peter Bernstein - Guitar
4/17
"Round Midnight" with:
The John Raymond Quartet
Midnight to close
John Raymond - Trumpet Gilad Hekselman - Guitar
Joe Martin - Bass
Austin Walker - Drums
4/20
The David Schnitter Quartet
7:30 PM to 10:00 PM
David Schnitter - Tenor
Spike Wilner - Piano
Ugonna Okegwo - Bass
Anthony Pinciotti - Drums
4/15
The Aaron Parks Trio
9:30 PM to 12:00 AM
Aaron Parks - Piano
Ben Street- Bass
RJ Miller- Drums
Diego Urcola - Trumpet
Conrad Herwig - Trombone
Alex Brown - Piano
Luques Curtis - Bass
Eric Doob - Drums
Paulo Stagnaro - Perc.
4/19
NY JAZZ 9
featuring
John Eckert
7:30 PM to 10:00 PM
John Eckert - Trumpet David Smith - Trumpet
Bobby Porcelli - A. Sax
Joe McDonough - Trombone
Noah Bless - Trombone
Terry Goss - Bari. Sax
Tim Harrison - Piano
Yasushi Nakamura - Bass
Jeff Brillinger - Drums
4/21
The Dmitry Baevsky Quartet
11:30 PM to close
Dmitry Baevsky - A. Sax
Jeb Patton - Piano
Mike Karn - Bass
Joe Strasser - Drums
“David Schnitter plays gruff, amiable, rough-and-tumble tenor in the great Jazz Messengers tradition…His most intriguing composition is “Squeamish.†Schnitter and pianist Spike Wilner, spilling and seething, create a persuasive musical representation of uncertainty and duress. There are two deeply felt vocals by Schnitter’s wife, Marti Mabin, who swoops up and down and all around “Peace†and “Soul Eyes.†- Thomas Conrad, JazzTimes
FREE LIVE VIDEO WEDNESDAY, April 17th
6:00 PM to close
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
9:30 PM to 12:00 AM - The Aaron Parks Trio Aaron Parks - Piano , Ben Street - Bass , RJ Miller - Drums 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM - A set of solo guitar with: Peter Bernstein Peter Bernstein - Guitar , 12:30 AM to close - Afterhours with: Spencer Murphy Spencer Murphy - Bass ,
7:15 PM to 9:30 PM - Spike Wilner Trio Spike Wilner - Piano , Yotam Silberstein - Guitar , Paul Gill - Bass 9:30 PM to 12:00 AM (two sets) - The Smalls Legacy Band Josh Evans - Trumpet , Theo Hill - Piano , Frank Lacy - Trombone Midnight to close - The Next Generation Sessions hosted by Kyle Poole and Friends Kyle Poole - Drums ,
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 - The Diego Urcola Sextet feat. Conrad Herwig ($20 cover) Diego Urcola - Trumpet , Conrad Herwig - Trombone , Alex Brown - Piano , Luques Curtis - Bass , Eric Doob - Drums , Paulo Stagnaro - Percussion Midnight to close - "Round Midnight" with: The John Raymond Group John Raymond - Trumpet , Gilad Hekselman - Guitar , Joe Martin - Bass , Austin Walker - Drums
6:00 PM to 8:45 PM ($10 cover, musicians free) - Afternoon Jam Session with: Pasquale Grasso Pasquale Grasso - Guitar , 9:30 PM to 12:00 AM - The Diego Urcola Sextet feat. Conrad Herwig ($20 cover) Diego Urcola - Trumpet , Conrad Herwig - Trombone , Alex Brown - Piano , Luques Curtis - Bass , Eric Doob - Drums , Paulo Stagnaro - Percussion Midnight to close - "Round Midnight" with: Carlos Abadie Peter Zak - Piano , Luca Santaniello - Drums , Clovis Nicolas - Bass , Carlos Abadie - Trumpet , Joe Sucato - Tenor Sax
4:00 PM to 7:00 PM ($10 cover, musicians free) - Afternoon Open Jam Session with: Sam Raderman and Luc Decker Luc Decker - Drums , Nial Djuliarso - Piano , Sam Raderman - Guitar , 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM - NYJazz 9 David Smith - Trumpet , John Eckert - Trumpet , Bobby Porcelli - Alto Sax , Joe McDonough - Trombone , Noah Bless - Trombone , Terry Goss - Baritone Sax , Tim Harrison - Piano , Yasushi Nakamura - Bass , Jeff Brillinger - Drums 10:30 PM to 1:00 AM - The Ralph Lalama Quartet Ralph Lalama - Tenor Sax , Helmut Kagerer - Guitar , Andy McKee - Bass , Bernd Reiter - Drums 1:00 AM to close - Afterhours with: Lawrence Leathers Lawrence Leathers - Drums ,
4:00 PM to 7:00 PM ($10 cover, musicians free) - The "Early Bird" Session hosted by Dwayne Clemons & Sasha Perry Dwayne Clemons - Trumpet , Josh Benko - Alto Sax , Sacha Perry - Piano , Murray Wall - Bass , Jimmy Wormworth - Drums 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM - The David Schnitter Quartet David Schnitter - Tenor Sax , Spike Wilner - Piano , Ugonna Okegwo - Bass , Anthony Pinciotti - Drums 10:30 PM to 1:00 AM - The Ralph Lalama Quartet Ralph Lalama - Tenor Sax , Helmut Kagerer - Guitar , Andy McKee - Bass , Bernd Reiter - Drums 1:00 AM to close - Afterhours with: Philip Harper Philip Harper - Trumpet ,
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM - Vocal Masterclass with Marion Cowings $20 entry - $40 to participate Marion Cowings - Vocalist 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM - Sunday Evening Duets: Vocalist Marianne Solivan Marianne Solivan - Vocalist , Michael Kanan - Piano 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM - Jon Roche - Goodbye Party (come on out!) Jon Roche - Bass , 9:30 PM to 11:00 PM - The Legendary Johnny O'Neal ($20) Johnny O'Neal - Piano , 11:00 PM - close - The Dmitry Baevsky Quartet Dmitry Baevsky - Alto Sax , Jeb Patton - Piano , Mike Karn - Bass , Joe Strasser - Drums
