Announcing Smoke Jazz Club’s February Line-up With Pianist Jacky Terrasson, Eric Alexander Quartet, Jazz Messengers Alumni, And A Special Valentine’s Week With Beloved Vocalist Mary Stallings

SMOKE Jazz Club welcomes back some of today’s leading artists in February. For five nights during Valentine’s Week (Feb 12-16), the remarkable vocalist Mary Stallings returns to SMOKE with her warm tone and vocal virtuosity. Wowing jazz fans for over six decades, Stallings is well into her 80s, still singing and swinging. No stranger to the SMOKE stage, French pianist Jacky Terrasson leads his Trio (Feb 5-9). “It’s a special treat to get to see this ebullient artist up close and personal; the superb surrounds of the SMOKE supper club, with its outstanding acoustics and room for a Steinway grand, is the perfect venue to catch such a performer.” (PopMatters) Ending the month is tenor great Eric Alexander at the helm of his Quartet (Feb 19-23) followed by the return of Jazz Messengers Alumni paying tribute to Art Blakey lead by master drummer Carl Allen (Feb 26-Mar 2). For the complete and most updated February schedule, please visit SMOKEjazz.com.

February 2025 Concert Schedule

Wed-Sun February 2-5: Jacky Terrasson Trio

Jacky Terrasson – piano
Burniss Travis – bass
Eric Harland – drums
with special guest
Grégoire Maret – harmonica (Fri & Sat only)

“Terrasson boasts a smooth-rolling conception and sophisticated touch that have long set him apart from the pack.” —Time Out New York

Jacky Terrasson leads an exciting trio with bassist Burniss Travis and drummer Eric Harland plus special guest Grégoire Maret on Friday and Saturday nights. Terrasson, an innovative and thoroughly original pianist, has reshaped and redefined the sound and possibilities of the classic piano trio for over 30 years. His inspired repertoire, bracing solos, and dramatic ensemble interplay are some of the hallmarks of his celebrated music. UK Jazz News reports, “Terrasson has presence and theatricality, and his performance(s) brim with good ideas.” JazzTimes adds, “There’s excitement and ingenuity embedded throughout (his) wholly original, shrewdly executed arrangements.”

Wed-Sun February 12-16: Mary Stallings

Mary Stallings – vocals
Aaron Goldberg – piano
Peter Washington – bass
Joe Farnsworth – drums

One of the most accomplished jazz singers of her generation. –Downbeat

Renowned vocalist Mary Stallings takes the stage with a top-tier trio featuring pianist Aaron Goldberg, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer Joe Farnsworth, delivering performances that swing with sophistication and soulful depth. Stallings’ upcoming shows will include special performances perfect for Valentine’s Day. The New York Times describes Stallings as “polished, self-possessed, and deeply rooted, with blues and gospel inflections simmering just beneath the surface. She’s a master of the long tone, using it to hone in on profound emotional landscapes, leaving spaces that speak as powerfully as the notes themselves.” The Wall Street Journal calls her “our greatest living link to the legendary Carmen McRae,” underscoring her status as a living treasure in the jazz vocal tradition.

Wed-Sun February 19-23: Eric Alexander Quartet featuring George Cables and Johnathan Blake

Eric Alexander- tenor saxophone
George Cables – piano
Nat Reeves – bass
Johnathan Blake – drums

“Arguably the best modern straight-ahead tenor in jazz today.”—JazzWise

Tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander leads an inspired quartet featuring George Cables and Johnathan Blake.The San Jose Mercury News says, “Beyond possessing one of the most beautiful tenor saxophone tones in all of jazz, Eric Alexander has set himself apart from his peers by building a vast repertoire studded with undeservedly obscure tunes.” Downbeat adds, “Eric Alexander has established an impressive career as one of today’s most solid post-hard-bop torchbearers.” Alexander’s stellar group includes jazz legend George Cables, who All About Jazz writes, “Anyone who is serious about jazz will tell you that George Cables belongs in the pantheon of the greatest jazz pianists,” as well as the esteemed bassist Nat Reeves and master drummer master Johnathan Blake.

Wed-Sun February 26-March 2: A Jazz Messengers Tribute to Art Blakey

Brian Lynch – trumpet
Donald Harrison – alto saxophone
Robin Eubanks – trombone
Benny Green – piano
Peter Washington – bass
Carl Allen – drums

“The first time I saw Art Blakey was in 1979. I felt like I was being baptized all over again.” –Carl Allen

Master drummer Carl Allen leads a very special sextet of Messengers’ alumni in celebration of the musical legacy of the great Art Blakey. Allen grew up idolizing Blakey’s hard-driving swing, and after he started playing with the legendary trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, a former member of Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, the iconic drummer named Allen an honorary Messenger. The members of this all-star ensemble are all former Messengers, too, with trumpeter Brian Lynch, alto saxophonist Donald Harrison, trombonist Robin Eubanks, pianist Geoff Keezer, and bassist Peter Washington. Individually, these musicians embody the spirit of Blakey with their virtuosity and fire, but together they are 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.