Smalls, NYC's Cutting Edge Jazz Club Since 1994 - February 2009

“This subterranean hot spot is the quintessential jazz dive...” – New York Magazine

“quite possibly the city's coziest jazz spot" – Time Out New York

Smalls, NYC’s Cutting Edge Jazz Club Since 1994 February 2009

HIGHLIGHTS:

John Bunch, Bucky Pizzarelli + Jay Leonhart – February 2

The Joe Martin Group featuring Chris Potter – February 5

Tenor saxophonist Seamus Blake Group featuring Dave Kikoski, Lage Lund, Bill Stewart + Matt Clohesy – February 6 + 7

The legendary Slide Hampton appears as a special guest of Israeli born trombonist/composer, and recent New School graduate, Jonathan Voltzok, in a tribute to Jay + Kai – February 13 + 14

Multi-reedist Anat Cohen performs music from her new recording on Anzic Records, Notes From The Village – February 18

The veteran trumpeter Richie Vitale leads his quintet on February 21 + 22 performing music from his recording Shake It!, and more.

Smalls proudly presents pianist/composer Gerald Clayton, “one of the most significant young jazz artists to emerge” (Don Heckman, The Los Angeles Times) in recent years, leading his trio of Joe Sanders and Justin Brown in celebration of his debut CD as a leader Two-Shade (artistShare) – February 26

Smalls Poetry Feature with Lee Kostrinsky – February 28

***In 2009 Smalls will celebrate its 15th Annniversary – special events TBA***

“Smalls proved that you don't have to go to the Big Five to hear exciting, straight-ahead jazz. With its nonthreatening air and workshop environment, Smalls has become a launching pad for young musicians schooled in the rigors of be-bop but stretching the idiom.” – Ben Ratliff - The New York Times

February 2009 schedule

Sun 1
(7:30 & 9:00 pm) vocalist Marion Cowings w. Jon Roche
(10:30 & 12:00 am) Spike Wilner group
(1:00 am) after-hours jam session w. Alex Stein

Mon 2
(7:30 & 9:00) John Bunch trio featuring Bucky Pizzarelli, Jay Leonhart
(10:30 & 12:00 AM) Ari Hoenig group w. Gilad Hekselman, Johannes Weidenmueller

Tue 3
(7:30 & 9:00) Jesse Elder group w. Logan Richardson, Jeremy Viner, Chris Tordini, Tyshawn Sorey, Zack Foley
(10:30 & 12:00 AM) Grant Stewart qrt
(1:30 am) after-hours jam session w. Ken Fowser qt. w. Behn Gelice

Wed 4
(7:30) Spike Wilner solo piano
(9:00 & 10:30 pm) Joan Stiles w. Joel Frahm, Matt Wilson
(12:00 am) Joe Magnarelli qt

Thr 5
(7:30) John Merrill trio w. Brian Floody, Tom Pietrycha
(9:00 & 10:30) Joe Martin group featuring Chris Potter
(12:00 am) after-hours jam session w. Alex Hoffman

Fri 6
(7:30 & 9:00) Dwayne Clemons w. Josh Benko, Sacha Perry, Jim Wormworth
(10:30 & 12:00 AM) Seamus Blake qnt w. Dave Kikoski, Lage Lund, Bill Stewart, Matt Clohesy
(1:30 AM) after-hours w. Tim McCall

Sat 7
(7:30 & 9:00) Warren Oree & Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble
(10:30 & 12:00 AM) Seamus Blake qnt w. Dave Kikoski, Lage Lund, Bill Stewart, Matt Clohesy
(1:30 AM) after-hours jam session w. Spencer Murphy

Sun 8
(7:30 & 9:00 pm) vocalist Marion Cowings w. Jon Roche
(10:30 & 12:00 am) Dave Schnitter qrt.
(1:00 am) after-hours jam session w. Alex Stein

Mon 9
(7:30 & 9:00) Romain Collin trio w. Luques Curtis, Ferenc Nemeth
(10:30 & 12:00 AM) Ari Hoenig trio w. Jean-Michel Pilc, Francois Mouton

Tue 10
(7:30 & 9:00) Matt Geraghty Project w. Jonathan Kreisberg, Matt Shulman, Satya Gummuluri, Adriano Santos, Sam Barsh
(10:30 & 12:00 AM) Nick Hempton qrt w. Art Hirahara, Marco Panascia, Dan Aran
(1:30 am) after-hours jam session w. Ken Fowser qt. w. Behn Gelice

Wed 11
(7:30) Jay Leonhart solo bass!
(9:00 & 10:30 pm) Adam Birnbaum trio w. Joe Sanders, Rodney Green
(12:00 am) Simona Premazzi & “The Intruders” w. Stacy Dillard, Ryan Berg, Jason Brown

Thr 12
(7:30) Ehud Asherie w. Jon-Erik Kellso
(9:00 & 10:30) Aruan Ortiz qrt. w. Myron Walden, Matt Penman, Eric McPherson
(12:00 am) after-hours jam session w. Alex Hoffman

Fri 13
(7:30 & 9:00) Ned Goold trio
(10:30 & 12:00 AM) Slide Hampton/Jonathan Voltzok – Jay & Kai Tribute
(1:30 am) after-hours w. Tim McCall

Sat 14
(7:30 & 9:00) Chris Ward w. Milan Milanovich, Francois Mouton, Steve Davis, Holly Laessig, Joe Beaty, Aki Ishiguro, Jim Robertson, Kenny Grohowski
(10:30 & 12:00 AM) Slide Hampton/Jonathan Voltzok - Jay & Kai Tribute
(1:30 am) after-hours jam session w. Spencer Murphy

Sun 15
(7:30 & 9:00 pm) vocalist Marion Cowings w. Jon Roche
(10:30 & 12:00 am) Spike Wilner group
(1:00 am) after-hours jam session w. Alex Stein

Mon 16
(7:30 & 9:00) Jill McCarron trio w. Tim Horner, Tom Kennedy
(10:30 & 12:00 AM) Ari Hoenig group w. Tigran Hamasyan, Matt Penman
Tue 17
(7:30 & 9:00) Tobias Gebb & “trio west” w. Ron Blake, Ugonna Okegwo
(10:30 & 12:00 AM) Grant Stewart qrt
(1:30 am) after-hours jam session w. Ken Fowser qt. w. Behn Gelice

Wed 18
(7:30) Terry Waldo “This is Ragtime” solo piano
(9:00 & 10:30 pm) Anat Cohen group
(12:00 am) Joe Magnarelli qt

Thr 19
(7:30) Ehud Asherie w. Stepko Gut
(9:00 & 10:30) Jonathan Kreisberg qt. w. Will Vinson, Matt Penman, Ari Hoenig
(12:00 am) after-hours jam session w. Zaid Nasser

Fri 20
(7:30 & 9:00) Dwayne Clemons w. Josh Benko, Sacha Perry, Jim Wormworth
(10:30 & 12:00 AM) Richie Vitale qnt w. Frank Basile, Keith Saunders, Paul Gill, Clifford Barbaro
(1:30 AM) after-hours w. Tim McCall

Sat 21
(7:30 & 9:00) Roy Dunlap cd release w. Marcus Parsley, Alex Mincek, Jeff Hanley, Bill Campbell, Doug Wamble
(10:30 & 12:00 AM) Richie Vitale qnt w. Frank Basile, Keith Saunders, Paul Gill, Clifford Barbaro
(1:30 AM) after-hours w. Spencer Murphy

Sun 22
(7:30 & 9:00 pm) vocalist Marion Cowings w. Jon Roche
(10:30 & 12:00 am) Spike Wilner group
(1:00 am) after-hours jam session w. Alex Stein

Mon 23
(7:30 & 9:00) Ben Waltzer trio w. Chris Lightcap, Gerald Cleaver
(10:30 & 12:00 AM) Ari Hoenig group w. Jonathan Kreisberg, Will Vinson, Danton Boller

Tue 24
(7:30 & 9:00) Jerry Costanzo nonet CD release w. Andy Farber, Dave Glasser, Dan Block, Brian Parechi, Wayne Goodman, Isaac Ben Ayala, Jennifer Vincent, Stefan Schatz
(10:30 & 12:00 AM) Ralph Lalama & “bopjuice” w. Pat O’Leary, Clifford Barbaro
(1:30 am) after-hours jam session w. Ken Fowser qt. w. Behn Gelice

Wed 25
(7:30) Rossano Sportiello solo
(9:00 & 10:30 pm) Anthony Wonsey trio
(12:00 am) Dmitry Baevsky qrt. w. Jeb Patton, Joe Strasser

Thr 26
(7:30) Ehud Asherie w. Harry Allen
(9:00 & 10:30) Gerald Clayton trio w. Joe Sanders, Justin Brown
(12:00 am) after-hours jam session w. Zaid Nasser

Fri 27
(7:30 & 9:00) William Ash trio
(10:30 & 12:00 AM) John Fedchock NY sextet w. Scott Wendholt, Allen Farnham, Ugonna Okegwo, Dave Ratajczak
(1:30 AM) after-hour jam session w. Tim McCall

Sat 28
(5:00 to 7:00) Smalls Poetry Feature w. Lee Kostrinsky
(7:30 & 9:00) Jacob Warren trio w. Will Terrill, Ryan Berg
(10:30 & 12:00 AM) John Fedchock NY sextet w. Scott Wendholt, Allen Farnham, Ugonna Okegwo, Dave Ratajczak
(1:30 AM) after-hour jam session w. Spencer Murphy

More on Smalls: Smalls was created in 1994 by jazz impresario Mitch Borden, a former nurse and the son of an art-gallery owner. The original Smalls was a raw basement space that quickly became the late-night hangout for a multi-generational assortment of jazz musicians. Many masters such as Frank Hewitt, Tommy Turrentine, Bubba Brooks, Jimmy Lovelace and Herman Foster made their final homes at Smalls and shared their musical legacy with an eager and dedicated younger crowd. Many of the well-known musicians of the current jazz scene cut their teeth at Smalls during this period. The list of musicians who played at Smalls at that time is enormous and includes such luminaries as: Brad Mehldau, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Joshua Redman, Brian Blade, Roy Hargrove, Peter Bernstein, Mark Turner, Omer Avital, Jason Linder, Sasha Perry, Grant Stewart, Larry Goldings and Norah Jones among many, many others.

During the financial crisis that affected New York City after September 11th, Smalls was forced to close. The control of the space changed hands but the popularity of the club did not allow it to end. Now musicians Spike Wilner and Lee Kostrinsky have partnered with Mitch Borden with the goal of restoring Smalls back to its original freewheeling and bohemian vibe. The club has been beautifully renovated and a full bar is now in service. The comfort and feeling of the club is amenable to after-hours hangs and the music again goes all night.