Over the past few months I've been fortunate to visit not 1, not 2 but 3 legendary NYC jazz venues over the span of a few trips to the Big Apple. As I will also share in my other reviews, writings and very evident on Mateo's Magic Bus each week, we're witnessing a renaissance and revolution in jazz right now, so many great young artists, also weaving in soul, fund, hip hop, really taking things to a new playing field. From the incredible scene in South London, to NYC and LA - there is much more to tell here, some of it I saw on display over these visits:
Village Vanguard (November 2021): Starting a few months back, I was able to make my long overdue first appearance to Monday nights with the Vanguard Orchestra, an institution at the Village Vanguard since the mid 1960s - best described on their website:
"The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra began its life as the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra in 1966.The world-famous Village Vanguard jazz club in New York City booked the newly formed band for three Monday nights that February. Those performances were wildly successful and the engagement was
The Village Vanguard’s owner, Max Gordon, told Mel Lewis, “We’ll keep it going until it tapers off.” Over half a century and more than 2700 Monday nights later, it still hasn’t. The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra stands apart from all other modern ensembles of its kind and is still as strong and vital as ever."
Smalls (November 2021): My friend Jeff and I started going to Small's in the late 90s, when it was still a veritable hole in the wall - almost like a secret jazz cave, opening at midnight and closing sometime at or near dawn From gig musicians finishing their sets to the many storied jazz figures that would show up to keep their chops sharp.
Everyone had to wait their turn in the wee hours to jam with some of NYC and the world's best Oh, and they did not serve booze so we would just grab a six-pack and sandwich at the bodega across the way and tuck in for some hours - with the $10 door fee, an unexplainable deal. One night 2 or 3ish, George Benson and his wife quietly appeared off to the side, waited his turn like everyone else, he stepped up and played a few tunes, just guitar, no biggie, packed up and off they went...speechless.
After years of closing and reopening, Small's is having a renaissance, now has a bar and still only $20 some bucks to get in - deal of the century as the place is one rectangle, in West Village basement, maybe a 1,000 sq. feet being generous. For the first time since reopening, Amy and I went a few years back which had me smiling for weeks. Act two this past November for the Ben Solomon Quartet. Tuesday night, bustling in the Village, Small's was full - young quartet, assuming they are all in their 20s and they blew the roof off the place.
You can see a video of the performance on Small's website - which is a well kept secret, all the Small's shows are filmed beautifully with multiple angles, great audio - you just need to be a supporting member, which starts at $10 donation - deal of the century again! Check it: https://www.smallslive.com/
Jazz Gallery (February 2022): A few weeks back I was lucky to have another free night in The City & happened upon a stellar set at the Jazz Gallery. Every so often you catch a few sets that really knock you off your feet and this evening was that and then some.
With Tyshawn Sorey as band leader and on drums, Aaron Diehl on keys, Greg Osby sax and Russell Hall on bass - the night descended into what was basically a set of virtuoso solos both together and separate, showcasing the immense talent of these relatively young musicians. Singling out Russell Hall as I had not heard him play prior, he had just gotten off a plane from New Orleans where is he rooted and came straight to the show, in a word his playing is transformational. Never stopping, always in action using the entire big bass board We spoke briefly after the show and he's as humble as he is one of the best bass players DJ Mateo has witnessed live, in any genre.
In the days after the show, I also dug deeper into Tyshawn's catalogue and one album that I love and very similar to the improv vibe of the quartet and night at the Jazz Gallery is a recent album he played on, Vijay Iyer's Uneasy from 2021 - check the version of the standard, Night and Day - it is transcendental.
From the NY Times: Is it Jazz? Improvisation? Tyshawn Sorey is Obliterating the Lines. "A drummer, trombonist, composer, professor and much more, Sorey is the kind of musician — and inveterate project-starter — who’s tough to keep track of. Even within a single performance, he might surge from a passage of pin-drop silence to overwhelming accrual to delicately crafted collective action. His latest undertaking is a sextet featuring five younger musicians on the New York scene: Nathan Reising on alto saxophone, Morgan Guerin on tenor saxophone, Lex Korten on piano, Sasha Berliner on vibraphone and Nick Dunston on bass. These shows at the Jazz Gallery are the group’s first extended run in New York." - The New York Times
Some backdrop on the Jazz Gallery: The Jazz Gallery serves as an international cultural center where the youngest generation of emerging professional jazz musicians are nurtured with opportunities to collaborate with their peers, discover and refine their creativity, and perform in front of eager audiences. We take pride in our world-renowned reputation as a key player in the NYC jazz community by sustaining a tradition of artistic excellence in jazz and fostering artistic growth, presenting both major and established figures in jazz alongside a younger generation of artists.
Since 2002, The Gallery has also been actively engaged in commissioning new work by emerging composers, many of whom have gone on to be recognized with MacArthur Foundation “genius” grants, Doris Duke Performing Artist Awards, Grammy Awards and more. Twelve Thelonious Monk Competition winners got their start on our stage.
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