Hailed as the “#1 Jazz Club in New York City (SecretNYC),” SMOKE Jazz Club today announced an exciting line-up for August 2026. The month begins with a special centennial celebration honoring two jazz greats: Miles Davis and John Coltrane—both born in 1926. Grammy-winning trumpeter Nicholas Payton conjures up a program paying tribute to two of their respective groundbreaking albums: Davis’s Kind of Blue (1959) and Coltrane’s A Love Supreme (1965). Two of today’s top saxophonists, Vincent Herring and Eric Alexander, pay tribute to the great Charlie Parker on his August 29th birthday. The leading jazz organ trio of Goldings/Bernstein/Stewart (pictured above) returns to the SMOKE stage to celebrate its latest album release Rhombus (SMOKE Sessions Records). For the most updated August schedule, please visit SMOKEjazz.com. As always, all Friday night concerts are livestreamed!
Mark Turner – tenor saxophone
Mike Moreno – guitar
Vicente Archer – bass
Mark Whitfield Jr. – drums
“Payton's genius virtuosity captivated both faithful fans and anyone in the NPR crowd just discovering his music for the first time." – NPR
In celebration of the centennial birth years of Miles Davis (b. 05.26.26) and John Coltrane (b.09.23.26), GRAMMY Award-winning trumpeter, pianist, composer, and producer Nicholas Payton presents A Supreme Blue, a groundbreaking reimagining of two of their most iconic and influential recordings: Davis’s Kind of Blue (1959) and Coltrane’s A Love Supreme (1965). Joining Payton is an exceptional quintet featuring tenor saxophonist Mark Turner, guitarist Mike Moreno, bassist Vicente Archer, and drummer Mark Whitfield Jr.
Conceived in honor of the Davis and Coltrane centennials, A Supreme Blue—also the title of Payton's forthcoming album collaboration with the band Butcher Brown—explores the compositions of these landmark recordings with arrangements informed by the musical developments since the 1960s. These performances present Payton's vision in an acoustic setting with an all-star ensemble, offering a distinctive new perspective on the project.
A New Orleans native and one of the most original creative voices of his generation, Payton has built a singular body of work across the spectrum of Black American Music (BAM). As The Chicago Tribunereported, “No descriptive label or category could be affixed to Payton's solos, which were as brashly original as they were technically imposing.”
Larry Grenadier – bass
Joe Farnsworth – drums
“One of the premier straight-ahead drummers of his generation.” —Glide Magazine
Acclaimed drummer Joe Farnsworth convenes an extraordinary trio featuring pianist Brad Mehldau and bassist Larry Grenadier. Known for his deep swing, clarity of time, and ability to elevate every ensemble he joins, Farnsworth stands among the foremost drummers of his generation and has emerged as a compelling bandleader in his own right. After more than three decades propelling the bands of Benny Golson, Pharaoh Sanders, George Coleman, Cedar Walton, McCoy Tyner, and Harold Mabern, Farnsworth has built a career that bridges tradition and forward momentum. As a leader, he has continued to shape distinctive ensembles across generations of players, including his recent recording The Big Room, which features artists such as Joel Ross, Sarah Hanahan, and Emmet Cohen.
The New Yorker describes Farnsworth as the “most swinging of percussionists” who “can spark any band with his perfect time and unwavering attention to detail.” Of his trio partners, The New Yorker has also called Brad Mehldau “arguably the greatest working jazz pianist,” while The New York Times praises Larry Grenadier’s sound as “direct and powerful as it is elegant.”
Peter Bernstein – guitar
Bill Stewart – drums
“An authentic organ trio with all the size and scope of Mount Everest, and twice the cool.” —JazzTimes
Larry Goldings, Peter Bernstein, and Bill Stewart return to Smoke to celebrate the release of their new album Rhombus (Smoke Sessions Records, August 7). One of the most acclaimed organ trios in modern music, the group has been performing and recording together for more than 35 years, developing a deeply intuitive musical language defined by groove, interplay, and invention. To help celebrate the trio’s new recording, JazzTimes will co-host complimentary livestream concerts on Friday, August 21, 2026, at 6:30pm + 8:30pm ET. Tune in to SmokeJazz.com to enjoy these performances all weekend.
Formed in New York in the late 1980s, the trio has become a benchmark for the modern organ trio tradition, while each member has established himself as a leading voice on his instrument. Rhombus finds them exploring music by Keith Jarrett, Randy Weston, Abdullah Ibrahim, Wayne Shorter, Thelonious Monk, and Irving Berlin, alongside originals by Goldings and Bernstein—reframing familiar material through their unmistakable collective sound. DownBeat calls them “standard-bearers for the B-3 tradition,” while JazzTimes praises their “interactive approach, virtuoso execution, and emphasis on melody and groove.”
Eric Alexander – tenor saxophone
Mike LeDonne – piano
John Webber – bass
Lewis Nash – drums
“Herring fuses instrumental mastery with equal and unified parts of jazz’s holy trinity of heart, mind, and soul.” –WNPR Radio
“Eric Alexander can play the tenor saxophone—never doubt that. He has the chops, power, and passion that make him one of the most blazingly bad-assed saxophonists of his generation.” —Downbeat
Two saxophone masters, Vincent Herring and Eric Alexander—on alto and tenor respectively—join forces for Bird Lives! A Charlie Parker Birthday Celebration featuring a stellar quintet with pianist Mike LeDonne, bassist John Webber, and drummer Lewis Nash. Parker was born in Kansas City, Kansas, on August 29, 1920.
Alexander and Herring have a long-running and rewarding musical relationship that is frequently billed as a “saxophone battle,” a tradition of musical competition that Parker himself knew well. From their celebrated recordings The Battle: Live at Smoke (2005) to their recent acclaimed release Split Decision (2026), Alexander and Herring continue to thrill audiences with their energetic and entertaining exchanges. Every time they meet as formidable peers and longtime collaborators, there is a deep musical rapport and plenty of fireworks. All About Jazz states, “For those who long for the time when hard bop reigned supreme... here's a sure cure for any lament that those days are lost and gone forever.” While Paris Move calls this very quintet “a dream team of seasoned musicians whose names have long been synonymous with jazz excellence.”
Every Wednesday-Sunday @ 6:00 p.m. + 8:00 p.m. and an additional 10:00 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.
AUGUST 2026 @ SMOKE Jazz Club
Wed-Sun Aug 5-9 A SUPREME BLUE: INSPIRED BY COLTRANE’S “A LOVE SUPREME” MILES’S & “KIND OF BLUE”
Nicholas Payton – trumpetMark Turner – tenor saxophone
Mike Moreno – guitar
Vicente Archer – bass
Mark Whitfield Jr. – drums
“Payton's genius virtuosity captivated both faithful fans and anyone in the NPR crowd just discovering his music for the first time." – NPR
In celebration of the centennial birth years of Miles Davis (b. 05.26.26) and John Coltrane (b.09.23.26), GRAMMY Award-winning trumpeter, pianist, composer, and producer Nicholas Payton presents A Supreme Blue, a groundbreaking reimagining of two of their most iconic and influential recordings: Davis’s Kind of Blue (1959) and Coltrane’s A Love Supreme (1965). Joining Payton is an exceptional quintet featuring tenor saxophonist Mark Turner, guitarist Mike Moreno, bassist Vicente Archer, and drummer Mark Whitfield Jr.
Conceived in honor of the Davis and Coltrane centennials, A Supreme Blue—also the title of Payton's forthcoming album collaboration with the band Butcher Brown—explores the compositions of these landmark recordings with arrangements informed by the musical developments since the 1960s. These performances present Payton's vision in an acoustic setting with an all-star ensemble, offering a distinctive new perspective on the project.
A New Orleans native and one of the most original creative voices of his generation, Payton has built a singular body of work across the spectrum of Black American Music (BAM). As The Chicago Tribunereported, “No descriptive label or category could be affixed to Payton's solos, which were as brashly original as they were technically imposing.”
Wed-Sun Aug 12-16 JOE FARNSWORTH TRIO featuring BRAD MEHLDAU & LARRY GRENADIER
Brad Mehldau – pianoLarry Grenadier – bass
Joe Farnsworth – drums
“One of the premier straight-ahead drummers of his generation.” —Glide Magazine
Acclaimed drummer Joe Farnsworth convenes an extraordinary trio featuring pianist Brad Mehldau and bassist Larry Grenadier. Known for his deep swing, clarity of time, and ability to elevate every ensemble he joins, Farnsworth stands among the foremost drummers of his generation and has emerged as a compelling bandleader in his own right. After more than three decades propelling the bands of Benny Golson, Pharaoh Sanders, George Coleman, Cedar Walton, McCoy Tyner, and Harold Mabern, Farnsworth has built a career that bridges tradition and forward momentum. As a leader, he has continued to shape distinctive ensembles across generations of players, including his recent recording The Big Room, which features artists such as Joel Ross, Sarah Hanahan, and Emmet Cohen.
The New Yorker describes Farnsworth as the “most swinging of percussionists” who “can spark any band with his perfect time and unwavering attention to detail.” Of his trio partners, The New Yorker has also called Brad Mehldau “arguably the greatest working jazz pianist,” while The New York Times praises Larry Grenadier’s sound as “direct and powerful as it is elegant.”
Wed-Sun Aug 19-23 GOLDINGS / BERNSTEIN / STEWART RHOMBUS Record Release
Larry Goldings – Hammond B-3 organPeter Bernstein – guitar
Bill Stewart – drums
“An authentic organ trio with all the size and scope of Mount Everest, and twice the cool.” —JazzTimes
Larry Goldings, Peter Bernstein, and Bill Stewart return to Smoke to celebrate the release of their new album Rhombus (Smoke Sessions Records, August 7). One of the most acclaimed organ trios in modern music, the group has been performing and recording together for more than 35 years, developing a deeply intuitive musical language defined by groove, interplay, and invention. To help celebrate the trio’s new recording, JazzTimes will co-host complimentary livestream concerts on Friday, August 21, 2026, at 6:30pm + 8:30pm ET. Tune in to SmokeJazz.com to enjoy these performances all weekend.
Formed in New York in the late 1980s, the trio has become a benchmark for the modern organ trio tradition, while each member has established himself as a leading voice on his instrument. Rhombus finds them exploring music by Keith Jarrett, Randy Weston, Abdullah Ibrahim, Wayne Shorter, Thelonious Monk, and Irving Berlin, alongside originals by Goldings and Bernstein—reframing familiar material through their unmistakable collective sound. DownBeat calls them “standard-bearers for the B-3 tradition,” while JazzTimes praises their “interactive approach, virtuoso execution, and emphasis on melody and groove.”
Wed-Sun Aug 26-30 BIRD LIVES! A CHARLIE PARKER BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION featuring VINCENT HERRING & ERIC ALEXANDER QUINTET
Vincent Herring – alto saxophoneEric Alexander – tenor saxophone
Mike LeDonne – piano
John Webber – bass
Lewis Nash – drums
“Herring fuses instrumental mastery with equal and unified parts of jazz’s holy trinity of heart, mind, and soul.” –WNPR Radio
“Eric Alexander can play the tenor saxophone—never doubt that. He has the chops, power, and passion that make him one of the most blazingly bad-assed saxophonists of his generation.” —Downbeat
Two saxophone masters, Vincent Herring and Eric Alexander—on alto and tenor respectively—join forces for Bird Lives! A Charlie Parker Birthday Celebration featuring a stellar quintet with pianist Mike LeDonne, bassist John Webber, and drummer Lewis Nash. Parker was born in Kansas City, Kansas, on August 29, 1920.
Alexander and Herring have a long-running and rewarding musical relationship that is frequently billed as a “saxophone battle,” a tradition of musical competition that Parker himself knew well. From their celebrated recordings The Battle: Live at Smoke (2005) to their recent acclaimed release Split Decision (2026), Alexander and Herring continue to thrill audiences with their energetic and entertaining exchanges. Every time they meet as formidable peers and longtime collaborators, there is a deep musical rapport and plenty of fireworks. All About Jazz states, “For those who long for the time when hard bop reigned supreme... here's a sure cure for any lament that those days are lost and gone forever.” While Paris Move calls this very quintet “a dream team of seasoned musicians whose names have long been synonymous with jazz excellence.”
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 @ 6:00 p.m. + 8:00 p.m. and an additional 10:00 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.
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