The renowned Smoke Jazz Club begins the New Year with 80th Birthday Celebrations for Billy Harper and Al Foster, the 10th Annual Coltrane Festival and more. Here’s the full eschedule:
Through Sun, Jan 8 Coltrane Festival: Billy Harper Quintet “80th Birthday Celebration
Josh Evans – trumpet
Billy Harper – tenor saxophone
Benito Gonzalez – piano
Lonnie Plaxico – bass
Billy Hart – drums
Smoke’s 10th annual Coltrane Festival concludes with an 80th birthday celebration for Billy Harper, who is leading a very special quintet with trumpeter Josh Evans, pianist Benito Gonzalez, bassist Lonnie Plaxico and fellow legend and “Cooker” drummer Billy Hart. One of the indispensable saxophonists of the past 50 years stylistically indebted to Trane, Harper has a distinctive sound and approach that is purely his own.
Wed Jan 11 TBA
Thu-Sun Jan 12-15 Nicholas Payton Trio featuring Buster Williams and Lenny White The Couch Sessions record release
Nicholas Payton – trumpet, piano & Fender Rhodes
Buster Williams – bass
Lenny White – drums
Multi-instrumental virtuoso Nicholas Payton celebrates the release of his new album The Couch Sessions (Smoke Sessions Records) with his trio featuring two of the greatest: bassist Buster Williams and drummer Lenny White. Originally from New Orleans, Payton is a master trumpeter and pianist steeped in acoustic jazz, post-bop, and the music of his hometown, but who also explores other lanes encompassing the entirety of Black American Music.
Wed Jan 18 TBA
Thu-Sun Jan 19-22 Al Foster Quartet: Al Foster’s 80th Birthday Celebration
Chris Potter – tenor saxophone
Kevin Hays – piano
Ben Street – bass (Thu only)
Vincent Archer – bass (Fri-Sun only)
Al Foster – drums
Drummer Al Foster celebrates his 80th birthday with a special quartet featuring tenor saxophonist Chris Potter, pianist Kevin Hays, and bassists Ben Street (Thu) and Vicente Archer (Fri–Sun.) Foster, well-known for his long association with Miles Davis throughout the ’70s and ’80s, was also the first-call drummer for an legends such as Sonny Rollins, Herbie Hancock, Stan Getz, McCoy Tyner, and Joe Henderson.
Wed Jan 25 TBA
Thu-Sun Jan 26-29 Bill Charlap Trio
Bill Charlap – piano
Peter Washington – bass
Kenny Washington – drums
Bill Charlap leads his longtime trio featuring bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington. Known as a master interpreter of American popular song, Charlap has performed with many leading artists of our time from Phil Woods and Tony Bennett to Gerry Mulligan and Wynton Marsalis, He’s led this trio since 1997.
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