Rated the #1 Jazz Club in New York City (Secret NYC), Smoke Jazz Club begins a new season with some heavy hitters starting with a Labor Day weekend run with the Peter Bernstein Quartet featuring Al Foster (Aug 31-Sep 3). Hailed as “2023 Record Label of the Year (Jazz Journalists Association), Smoke Sessions Records releases Eddie Henderson’s Witness to History album complemented by a four-night concert series at the club (Sep 7-10). Celebrating their Smoke Jazz Club debuts are renowned pianist Billy Childs (Sep 13-17) and award-winning vocalist Jazzmeia Horn (Sep 21-24). For the most updated concert schedule, please visit SMOKEjazz.com.
Adam Birnbaum – piano
Doug Weiss – bass
Al Foster – drums
“His technique is amazing, using a seamless combination of single-line and chordal playing, and his harmonic ingenuity is endless.” —The Guardian
Guitarist Peter Bernstein leads an inspired quartet with pianist Adam Birnbaum, bassist Doug Weiss and featuring legendary drummer Al Foster. Bernstein “stands head and shoulders above the crowd,” reports All About Jazz, with The Times (UK) adding, “Bernstein is a master of straight-ahead swing with submerged complexities, which is a way of saying that, while his music is advanced, the listener never feels shut out.” Stereophile calls his featured guest Al Foster “one of the great living drummers in jazz.” Bernstein featured Foster in a quartet to great acclaim last fall, and these special performances should not be missed.
Antoine Drye – trumpet
John DiMartino – piano
Yoshi Waki – bass
Russell Carter – drums
“Lezlie Harrison has a smoky, sensuous voice that keeps you on the edge of your chair.”-–Amsterdam News
Vocalist Lezlie Harrison, whose burnished, soulful alto strikingly illuminates a distinctive blend ofstandards, classic '70s soul, and her original music, leads a quintet with trumpeter Antoine Drye, pianist John DiMartino, bassist Yoshi Waki, and drummer Russell Carter. Drawing her diverse repertoire from foundational sources like the soul music of her childhood, the gospel she sang in her grandfather’s church, and the omnipresent traditional jazz standards throughout her life, Harrison creates captivating and personal music that listeners can’t help but love.
Donald Harrison – alto saxophone
George Cables – piano
Gerald Cannon – bass
Lenny White – drums
“His musical wisdom, gleaned during decades spent on the best jazz bandstands, informs every unerring note.” —Downbeat
Trumpeter Eddie Henderson celebrates the release of a highly anticipated new recording, Witness to History(Smoke Sessions Records) that reflects on his incredible life in music and whose arrival coincides with the 50th anniversary of his 1973 recording debut as a leader, Realization. Joining Henderson for these release performances is the spectacular quintet of his closest collaborators that he convened for the recording, including alto saxophonist Donald Harrison, pianist George Cables, bassist Gerald Cannon, and drummerLenny White. Henderson’s “deft feel and plush sound made him a central figure in the worlds of jazz-funk and hard-bop in the 1970s,” according to The New York Times. The Chicago Reader adds, “His progressive,assured, and imaginative improvisations roll out in a glorious sun-splashed tone… he seems to dance through his solos, balancing his quick clockwork technique with bursts of bluesy soul.” The eternally youthfulHenderson has proven again that he is still making some of the most important music of his career into his 80s.
Billy Childs – piano
Hans Glawischnig – bass
Ari Hoenig – drums
“One of the most critically acclaimed pianists in modern jazz” —All About Jazz
Renowned pianist and composer Billy Childs makes a long-awaited Smoke Jazz Club debut, leading a very special quartet featuring acclaimed trumpeter Sean Jones with bassist Hans Glawischnig and drummer Ari Hoenig. A native of Los Angeles, Childs grew up immersed in jazz, classical, and popular music influences, which he blends in powerful and personal compositional and performing voice. A child prodigy who started performing at age six and studying at USC at 16, he was “discovered” by trumpet legend Freddie Hubbard, with whom he embarked on a successful performing and recording tour. He also recorded and performed with a number of other influential jazz musicians, including J.J. Johnson, Joe Henderson, Wynton Marsalis, Jack DeJohnette, and Dave Holland, among many others, and with such varied artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Sting, Renee Fleming, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Kronos Quartet. Downbeat reports, “The same creative spirit that’s propelled him from the bands of bop giants as a twenty-something side-player to a composer renowned throughout concert halls and across jazz festival stages remains unhampered.”
Victor Gould – piano
Jason Clotter – bass
Michael Reed – drums
“The next big carrier of straight-ahead jazz’s vocal tradition.” —The New York Times
Jazzmeia Horn, making an important Smoke Jazz Club debut, leads a stellar quartet with pianist Victor Gould, bassist Jason Clotter, and drummer Michael Reed. An award- winning vocalist (2013 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition and the 2015 Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Competition), Horn is “without a doubt among the jazz world’s most exciting young vocalists…her sound is explosive and bright and rich, catnip for audiences looking for boldness that’s still traditional,” reports Billboard. Downbeat adds, “Jazzmeia Horn harbors both astounding technique and an acute artistic vision…[she] has a thrilling presence with a musical sensibility that strikes a deft balance between mid-century jazz and contemporary neo-soul.”
“Anyone who is serious about jazz will tell you that George Cables belongs in the pantheon of the greatest jazz pianists.” —All About Jazz
One of the essential artists of piano, George Cables (aka “Mr. Beautiful”) is known for his impeccable sound, sensitive accompaniment, and original playing. A trusted collaborator over the past 50 years for artists like Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Dexter Gordon, and Art Pepper, Cables has also released numerous important recordings as a leader. The New York City Jazz Record says, “He is a piano giant.” National Public Radio adds “His solos reveal a deep sense of groove and pacing and a mind at work."
Every Wednesday-Sunday @ 7:00 p.m. + 9:00 p.m. and additional 10:30 p.m. (Fri & Sat only). Doors open at 5:00 p.m.
Smoke Jazz & Supper Club
2751 Broadway
New York, NY 10025
212-864-6662
In-Person $25-$60. Livestream $15. For more information and to make reservations visit our website (link below).
September 2023 Concert Schedule
Thu-Sun Aug 31-Sep 3 | Peter Bernstein Quartet featuring Al Foster
Peter Bernstein – guitarAdam Birnbaum – piano
Doug Weiss – bass
Al Foster – drums
“His technique is amazing, using a seamless combination of single-line and chordal playing, and his harmonic ingenuity is endless.” —The Guardian
Guitarist Peter Bernstein leads an inspired quartet with pianist Adam Birnbaum, bassist Doug Weiss and featuring legendary drummer Al Foster. Bernstein “stands head and shoulders above the crowd,” reports All About Jazz, with The Times (UK) adding, “Bernstein is a master of straight-ahead swing with submerged complexities, which is a way of saying that, while his music is advanced, the listener never feels shut out.” Stereophile calls his featured guest Al Foster “one of the great living drummers in jazz.” Bernstein featured Foster in a quartet to great acclaim last fall, and these special performances should not be missed.
Wed Sep 6 | Lezlie Harrison Quintet
Lezlie Harrison – vocalsAntoine Drye – trumpet
John DiMartino – piano
Yoshi Waki – bass
Russell Carter – drums
“Lezlie Harrison has a smoky, sensuous voice that keeps you on the edge of your chair.”-–Amsterdam News
Vocalist Lezlie Harrison, whose burnished, soulful alto strikingly illuminates a distinctive blend ofstandards, classic '70s soul, and her original music, leads a quintet with trumpeter Antoine Drye, pianist John DiMartino, bassist Yoshi Waki, and drummer Russell Carter. Drawing her diverse repertoire from foundational sources like the soul music of her childhood, the gospel she sang in her grandfather’s church, and the omnipresent traditional jazz standards throughout her life, Harrison creates captivating and personal music that listeners can’t help but love.
Thu-Sun Sep 7-10 | Eddie Henderson Quintet Witness to History Record release
Eddie Henderson – trumpetDonald Harrison – alto saxophone
George Cables – piano
Gerald Cannon – bass
Lenny White – drums
“His musical wisdom, gleaned during decades spent on the best jazz bandstands, informs every unerring note.” —Downbeat
Trumpeter Eddie Henderson celebrates the release of a highly anticipated new recording, Witness to History(Smoke Sessions Records) that reflects on his incredible life in music and whose arrival coincides with the 50th anniversary of his 1973 recording debut as a leader, Realization. Joining Henderson for these release performances is the spectacular quintet of his closest collaborators that he convened for the recording, including alto saxophonist Donald Harrison, pianist George Cables, bassist Gerald Cannon, and drummerLenny White. Henderson’s “deft feel and plush sound made him a central figure in the worlds of jazz-funk and hard-bop in the 1970s,” according to The New York Times. The Chicago Reader adds, “His progressive,assured, and imaginative improvisations roll out in a glorious sun-splashed tone… he seems to dance through his solos, balancing his quick clockwork technique with bursts of bluesy soul.” The eternally youthfulHenderson has proven again that he is still making some of the most important music of his career into his 80s.
Wed-Sun Sep 13-17 | Billy Childs Quartet featuring Sean Jones
Sean Jones – trumpetBilly Childs – piano
Hans Glawischnig – bass
Ari Hoenig – drums
“One of the most critically acclaimed pianists in modern jazz” —All About Jazz
Renowned pianist and composer Billy Childs makes a long-awaited Smoke Jazz Club debut, leading a very special quartet featuring acclaimed trumpeter Sean Jones with bassist Hans Glawischnig and drummer Ari Hoenig. A native of Los Angeles, Childs grew up immersed in jazz, classical, and popular music influences, which he blends in powerful and personal compositional and performing voice. A child prodigy who started performing at age six and studying at USC at 16, he was “discovered” by trumpet legend Freddie Hubbard, with whom he embarked on a successful performing and recording tour. He also recorded and performed with a number of other influential jazz musicians, including J.J. Johnson, Joe Henderson, Wynton Marsalis, Jack DeJohnette, and Dave Holland, among many others, and with such varied artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Sting, Renee Fleming, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Kronos Quartet. Downbeat reports, “The same creative spirit that’s propelled him from the bands of bop giants as a twenty-something side-player to a composer renowned throughout concert halls and across jazz festival stages remains unhampered.”
Thu-Sun Sep 21-24 | Jazzmeia Horn Quartet
Jazzmeia Horn – vocalsVictor Gould – piano
Jason Clotter – bass
Michael Reed – drums
“The next big carrier of straight-ahead jazz’s vocal tradition.” —The New York Times
Jazzmeia Horn, making an important Smoke Jazz Club debut, leads a stellar quartet with pianist Victor Gould, bassist Jason Clotter, and drummer Michael Reed. An award- winning vocalist (2013 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition and the 2015 Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Competition), Horn is “without a doubt among the jazz world’s most exciting young vocalists…her sound is explosive and bright and rich, catnip for audiences looking for boldness that’s still traditional,” reports Billboard. Downbeat adds, “Jazzmeia Horn harbors both astounding technique and an acute artistic vision…[she] has a thrilling presence with a musical sensibility that strikes a deft balance between mid-century jazz and contemporary neo-soul.”
Thu-Sun Sep 28-Oct 1 | George Cables Quartet
George Cables – piano“Anyone who is serious about jazz will tell you that George Cables belongs in the pantheon of the greatest jazz pianists.” —All About Jazz
One of the essential artists of piano, George Cables (aka “Mr. Beautiful”) is known for his impeccable sound, sensitive accompaniment, and original playing. A trusted collaborator over the past 50 years for artists like Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Dexter Gordon, and Art Pepper, Cables has also released numerous important recordings as a leader. The New York City Jazz Record says, “He is a piano giant.” National Public Radio adds “His solos reveal a deep sense of groove and pacing and a mind at work."
About SMOKE
Located on Manhattan’s Upper West Side at the junction of Broadway and 106th Street (aka Duke Ellington Boulevard), Smoke Jazz Club is one of New York City’s premier live music venues. Renowned for offering top-notch programming of accessible, timeless jazz featuring legendary performers, modern masters and rising stars, Smoke stands apart with its candlelit dining room, stellar acoustics, and classic American cuisine. Founded in 1999, SMOKE also boasts a GRAMMY-nominated label, Smoke Sessions Records, and a celebrated streaming concert series, Smoke Screens.Every Wednesday-Sunday @ 7:00 p.m. + 9:00 p.m. and additional 10:30 p.m. (Fri & Sat only). Doors open at 5:00 p.m.
Smoke Jazz & Supper Club
2751 Broadway
New York, NY 10025
212-864-6662
In-Person $25-$60. Livestream $15. For more information and to make reservations visit our website (link below).
For more information contact AMT Public Relations.
