Kevin Hays Awakening Quartet at The Pocket Jazz Club

Pianist Kevin Hays has a gift for capturing the ineffable joys of discovery, and his Awakening Quartet frames that truth as well as any ensemble he's ever put together. Teaming with three fellow explorers/catalysts—saxophonist (and recent MacArthur "genius grant" recipient) Immanuel Wilkins,  bass heavy Matt Brewer, and drummer nonpareil Brian Blade—Hays found(ed) a band that dances on a knife's edge and delights in the possibilities within those unknowns. 

Taking to the stage on October 9, 2026, at one of Manhattan's newest venues—The Pocket Jazz Club, in midtown—the quartet embraced the newness of its ensemble dynamic(s) while emitting enough energy to light an entire city block.  In an opening set that moved comfortably from sketch exploration to Leonard Bernstein's "Somewhere," offered audible schematics for the pianist's upstate digs at The 108 art space, spotlighted his vocals in a Rilke state of mind, and concluded with a pliably swinging take on Charlie Parker's "Cheryl," there was never a dull moment or missed opportunity.  These pictures extend on the story, putting the eye and mind in those same dimension(s)...