“This subterranean hot spot is the quintessential jazz dive...” – New York Magazine
“quite possibly the city's coziest jazz spot" – Time Out New York
Highlights
March 2009 schedule
In 2009 Smalls will celebrate its 15th Anniversary – special events TBA
“Smalls proved that you don't have to go to the Big Five to hear exciting, straight-ahead jazz. With its nonthreatening air and workshop environment, Smalls has become a launching pad for young musicians schooled in the rigors of be-bop but stretching the idiom.” – Ben Ratliff, The New York Times
SPOTLIGHT on Smalls’ Regulars: - Vocalist Marion Cowings – appearing every Sunday - is a native New Yorker (from the South Bronx) that has been delighting audiences with his smooth baritone voice and considerable range for decades. Cowings, mentored by the great Jon Hendricks, has appeared at some of the world’s most prestigious venues, including The Village Vanguard, Lincoln Center, The Blue Note and many others. He attended Music and Art (now LaGuardia High School), where he was chosen to perform as a solo vocalist with the New York Philharmonic under the direction of Leonard Bernstein. At the age of fifteen, Cowings discovered the bebop group Lambert, Hendricks and Ross. While still in high school, his classmate Eddie Gomez played with Jon Hendricks and spoke highly of Cowings. Hendricks called Cowings and said “I hear you’re doing my stuff…. meet me outside Birdland and we’ll talk.” Soon afterward Hendricks set up Cowings’ first professional engagement at the Randall’s Island Jazz Festival with Pony Poindextor and the Ike Isaacs Trio. He also became an understudy for Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, and eventually became Dave Lambert’s original replacement.
In 1984 after leading rhythm & blues and rock bands, Cowings teamed up with jazz vocalist Kim Kalesti. Kalesti and Cowings headlined the Berlin Jazz Festival and the Blue Note in New York and Japan. They starred in Lincoln Center’s Meet the Artist and performed hundreds of concerts through the auspices of the Young Audiences in New York City public schools. In addition to recording two albums on the Emarcy Label, they have played with many musicians including Clark Terry, Jimmy Heath, Frank Foster, Gary Bartz, Bobby Watson, Ron Carter, Howard Johnson, and the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra. Together they founded the Vocal Jazz Department at New York University and were adjunct professors for eleven years. Cowings’ Off-Broadway credits include the lead in “Queenie Pie,” a Duke Ellington Opera directed by Mercer Ellington at Lincoln Center. Recently, Marion headlined the Harry Warren Lyrics and Lyricists Program at the 92nd Street Y alongside Margaret Whiting and Marie Cleere Haran. He was also a lead in the hundredth anniversary tribute to Count Basie and Glenn Miller at the Lucille Lortel Theater, both directed by Mercedes Ellington.
Cowings is a recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts grant and a published lyricist with Quincy Jones, Wayne Shorter, Frank Foster, and Sonny Rollins.
More on Smalls
Smalls was created in 1994 by jazz impresario Mitch Borden, a former nurse and the son of an art-gallery owner. The original Smalls was a raw basement space that quickly became the late-night hangout for a multi-generational assortment of jazz musicians. Many masters such as Frank Hewitt, Tommy Turrentine, Bubba Brooks, Jimmy Lovelace and Herman Foster made their final homes at Smalls and shared their musical legacy with an eager and dedicated younger crowd. Many of the well-known musicians of the current jazz scene cut their teeth at Smalls during this period. The list of musicians who played at Smalls at that time is enormous and includes such luminaries as: Brad Mehldau, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Joshua Redman, Brian Blade, Roy Hargrove, Peter Bernstein, Mark Turner, Omer Avital, Jason Linder, Sasha Perry, Grant Stewart, Larry Goldings and Norah Jones among many, many others.
During the financial crisis that affected New York City after September 11th, Smalls was forced to close. The control of the space changed hands but the popularity of the club did not allow it to end. Now musicians Spike Wilner and Lee Kostrinsky have partnered with Mitch Borden with the goal of restoring Smalls back to its original freewheeling and bohemian vibe. The club has been beautifully renovated and a full bar is now in service. The comfort and feeling of the club is amenable to after-hours hangs and the music again goes all night.
“quite possibly the city's coziest jazz spot" – Time Out New York
Highlights
NEW - SUNDAY AFTERNOON MATINEES @ SMALLS March 8 & 22: “Sunday Afternoon Dixieland with Terry Waldo” March 15 & 29: “Big Band Afternoon with The Eyal Vilner Big Band”
John Bunch w. Bucky Pizzarelli, Jay Leonhart – Tuesday, March 3
Pianist Dred Scott Trio – Wednesday, March 4* “reorienting the compass of jazz..." – Derk Richardson, SF Bay Gaurdian
Fri & Sat, March 6 & 7 - Pete Malinverni “Invisible Cities” w/Scott Wendholt, Rich Perry, Ugonna Okegwo, Tom Melito
The Don Friedman Trio featuring Martin Wind, Tony Jefferson – Thurs, March 12
Tuesday, March 17 Saxophonist Tim Ries of The Rolling Stones featured with The Sergio Monroy Quartet w. flamenco dancer Graciela Perrone
The Howard Alden Quartet on March 19
March 20 – Mike Longo Duo with Santi DeBriano
Eric McPherson/Abraham Burton Group with Duane Eubanks, Marc Cary & Dezron Douglas on March 20 & 21
Historic Event! - Piano Legend Freddie Redd Returns To NYC, performing in a Sextet w. Chris Byars, Brad Linde, John Mosca, Ari Roland, Stefan Schatz - March 27 & 28
Monday & Tuesday, March 23 & 24, Special Show!: Ethan Iverson Trio w. Albert “Tootie" Heath & Ben Street
March 2009 schedule
In 2009 Smalls will celebrate its 15th Anniversary – special events TBA
“Smalls proved that you don't have to go to the Big Five to hear exciting, straight-ahead jazz. With its nonthreatening air and workshop environment, Smalls has become a launching pad for young musicians schooled in the rigors of be-bop but stretching the idiom.” – Ben Ratliff, The New York Times
SPOTLIGHT on Smalls’ Regulars: - Vocalist Marion Cowings – appearing every Sunday - is a native New Yorker (from the South Bronx) that has been delighting audiences with his smooth baritone voice and considerable range for decades. Cowings, mentored by the great Jon Hendricks, has appeared at some of the world’s most prestigious venues, including The Village Vanguard, Lincoln Center, The Blue Note and many others. He attended Music and Art (now LaGuardia High School), where he was chosen to perform as a solo vocalist with the New York Philharmonic under the direction of Leonard Bernstein. At the age of fifteen, Cowings discovered the bebop group Lambert, Hendricks and Ross. While still in high school, his classmate Eddie Gomez played with Jon Hendricks and spoke highly of Cowings. Hendricks called Cowings and said “I hear you’re doing my stuff…. meet me outside Birdland and we’ll talk.” Soon afterward Hendricks set up Cowings’ first professional engagement at the Randall’s Island Jazz Festival with Pony Poindextor and the Ike Isaacs Trio. He also became an understudy for Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, and eventually became Dave Lambert’s original replacement.
In 1984 after leading rhythm & blues and rock bands, Cowings teamed up with jazz vocalist Kim Kalesti. Kalesti and Cowings headlined the Berlin Jazz Festival and the Blue Note in New York and Japan. They starred in Lincoln Center’s Meet the Artist and performed hundreds of concerts through the auspices of the Young Audiences in New York City public schools. In addition to recording two albums on the Emarcy Label, they have played with many musicians including Clark Terry, Jimmy Heath, Frank Foster, Gary Bartz, Bobby Watson, Ron Carter, Howard Johnson, and the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra. Together they founded the Vocal Jazz Department at New York University and were adjunct professors for eleven years. Cowings’ Off-Broadway credits include the lead in “Queenie Pie,” a Duke Ellington Opera directed by Mercer Ellington at Lincoln Center. Recently, Marion headlined the Harry Warren Lyrics and Lyricists Program at the 92nd Street Y alongside Margaret Whiting and Marie Cleere Haran. He was also a lead in the hundredth anniversary tribute to Count Basie and Glenn Miller at the Lucille Lortel Theater, both directed by Mercedes Ellington.
Cowings is a recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts grant and a published lyricist with Quincy Jones, Wayne Shorter, Frank Foster, and Sonny Rollins.
More on Smalls
Smalls was created in 1994 by jazz impresario Mitch Borden, a former nurse and the son of an art-gallery owner. The original Smalls was a raw basement space that quickly became the late-night hangout for a multi-generational assortment of jazz musicians. Many masters such as Frank Hewitt, Tommy Turrentine, Bubba Brooks, Jimmy Lovelace and Herman Foster made their final homes at Smalls and shared their musical legacy with an eager and dedicated younger crowd. Many of the well-known musicians of the current jazz scene cut their teeth at Smalls during this period. The list of musicians who played at Smalls at that time is enormous and includes such luminaries as: Brad Mehldau, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Joshua Redman, Brian Blade, Roy Hargrove, Peter Bernstein, Mark Turner, Omer Avital, Jason Linder, Sasha Perry, Grant Stewart, Larry Goldings and Norah Jones among many, many others.
During the financial crisis that affected New York City after September 11th, Smalls was forced to close. The control of the space changed hands but the popularity of the club did not allow it to end. Now musicians Spike Wilner and Lee Kostrinsky have partnered with Mitch Borden with the goal of restoring Smalls back to its original freewheeling and bohemian vibe. The club has been beautifully renovated and a full bar is now in service. The comfort and feeling of the club is amenable to after-hours hangs and the music again goes all night.
For more information contact Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity.
