August 2024 Concert Schedule
Thu-Sun Aug 1-4: Eddie Henderson Quintet
Eddie Henderson – trumpet
Vincent Herring – alto saxophone
Peter Zak – piano
Nat Reeves – bass
Mike Clark – drums
“His musical wisdom, gleaned during decades spent on the best jazz bandstands, informs every unerring note.” – DownBeat
Trumpeter Eddie Henderson leads a spectacular quintet of close collaborators with alto saxophonist Vincent Herring, pianist Peter Zak, bassist Nat Reeves, and drummer Mike Clark. It has been an important year for Henderson: He was the subject of a compelling biographic documentary of his incredible life, Eddie Henderson: Uncommon Genius airing nationwide on PBS, and he released an acclaimed new album in 2023, Witness to History (SMOKE Sessions), coinciding with the 50th anniversary of his 1973 recording debut as a leader, Realization. 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 Readeradds, “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 youthful Henderson has proven again that he is still making some of the most important music of his career into his 80s.
Wed-Sun Aug 7-11: Johnathan Blake Quintet
Steve Wilson – alto saxophone
Chris Potter – tenor saxophone (Wed-Fri)
Marquis Hill – trumpet (Sat-Sun)
Sullivan Fortner – piano
Dezron Douglas – bass
Johnathan Blake – drums
“Despite his roots in Philadelphia, Johnathan Blake is the quintessential New York City jazz drummer.” – Jazz Times
Johnathan Blake—a drummer whose dynamic playing, artistic vision, and innate versatility led NPR’s John Murph to call him “the ultimate modernist” — leads a scintillating quintet with saxophone masters Steve Wilson, Chris Potter (Wed–Fri) and Marquis Hill (Sat-Sun), piano phenom Sullivan Fortner, and rock-solid bassist Dezron Douglas. Blake’s most recent album, Passage, was widely recognized as among the best of 2023 and was dedicated to the memory of his father, the renowned violinist John Blake Jr., who composed the title track. The New York Times says, “Blake’s drumming is as bold as thunder and as subtle as the patter of rain.” The Guardian adds, “his command of time is quite unbelievable – tricky and playful but accurate to the millisecond.”
Wed Aug 14: Laurin Talese
Laurin Talese – vocals
John Ellis – saxophone & flute
Mike King – piano
Jonathan Munir-Cotton – bass
Anwar Marshall – drums
Some of the most luxuriant, sumptuously phrased jazz vocals you could hope to hear.”– Chicago Tribune
Vocalist Laurin Talese is the epitome of the 21st Century jazz singer delivering tradition informed by the present. The pure quality of her voice has captivated audiences around the world, from the Newport Festival and Jazz at Lincoln Center Shanghai to the Kennedy Center, NJPAC, and beyond. Talese has also served as cultural ambassador for the State Department. She has collaborated with artists such as Bilal, Robert Glasper, Christian McBride, Ulysses Owens, Christian Sands, and Yannick Nezet-Seguin with the Philadelphia Orchestra. In 2018, she won the Sarah Vaughn International Jazz Vocal Competition. DownBeat reports, “Laurin’s voice combines breathy intimacy with sharp clarity.” Jump: The Philly Music Project adds, “Laurin Talese has a knack for engaging her audience. The jazz sensation can induce a smile from the most cantankerous of listeners. She melts the room with her personality.” She is joined by an impressive group, including saxophonist John Ellis, pianist Mike King, bassist Jonathan Munir-Cotton, and drummer Anwar Marshall.
Thu-Sun Aug 15-18: Joe Farnsworth Quintet “Time to Swing”
Nicholas Payton – trumpet
Sarah Hanahan – alto saxophone
Sullivan Fortner – piano (Fri-Sun only)
Luther Allison – piano (Thu only)
Peter Washington – bass
Joe Farnsworth – drums
“One of the premiere straight-ahead drummers of his generation.” – Glide Magazine
Joe Farnsworth leads a particularly fiery version of his “Time to Swing” quintet with trumpeter Nicholas Payton, saxophonist Sarah Hanahan, pianists Sullivan Fortner (Fri-Sun), Luther Allison (Thu), and bassist Peter Washington. The New York Times says, “Joe Farnsworth is a briskly swinging drummer, especially persuasive with the dialect of hard bop.” Broadway World adds that he “is known for his blazing speed, precision, and melodic playing.” Farnworth released a momentous new album last year, In What Direction Are You Headed? furthering his growing reputation as an inspired bandleader, a reflection of his decades working for such notable leaders as George Coleman, Benny Golson, Pharaoh Sanders, Cedar Walton, Harold Mabern, and McCoy Tyner. The New Yorker concludes, “This most swinging of percussionists can spark any band with his perfect time and unwavering attention to detail.”
Wed-Sun Aug 21-25: Fred Hersch Trio
Fred Hersch – piano
Alexander Claffy – bass
Jochen Rueckert – drums
“Hersch’s work has developed an intensity of intelligence and emotional directness unparalleled among his peers.” – The New Yorker
Pianist Fred Hersch makes his highly anticipated SMOKE debut leading an inspired trio featuring bassist Alexander Claffy and drummer Jochen Rueckert. Called “the most arrestingly innovative pianist in jazz over the last decade” by Vanity Fair and “a living legend” by The New Yorker, Hersch is a 17-time GRAMMY nominee and the recipient of many of jazz’s most prestigious awards. His trio is venerated as the epitome of thrilling interplay and dynamic spontaneity with The Wall Street Journal calling it “one of the major ensembles of our time. The Boston Globe called Hersch, “a pristine pianist with a poet’s soul — a pair of qualities that combine to especially dazzling effect … truly transcendent.”
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).