Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks
Birdland315 West 44th Street, New York 10036
Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks bring their Birdland Theater residency to Manhattan for an early evening set. Giordano leads the Nighthawks, an 11-piece band, in music devoted to the authentic jazz sounds of the 1920s and the years that followed. This is a focused chance to hear the group’s large-ensemble approach in the room where the residency is based.
A New York native, Giordano is a GRAMMY Award-winning multi-instrumentalist whose Nighthawks have built an international club and concert career around historically grounded jazz. Their period sound has also been heard far beyond the bandstand: the group has supplied music for The Cotton Club, The Aviator, Finding Forrester, Revolutionary Road, Café Society, HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon. That breadth of screen work points to the ensemble’s command of early-jazz detail, while their regular live appearances keep the music in performance rather than preservation.
Birdland offers a refined jazz experience in a room where the audience sits at tables close to the stage, allowing every note to reach you clearly. The venue features a full menu with dishes like New Orleans-style gumbo alongside a well-stocked bar, making it easy to enjoy a meal or drinks while listening. Each show is ticketed per set, encouraging focused listening as the music unfolds in roughly 45-minute segments. The club’s walls echo decades of jazz history, having hosted legends and continuing to attract top contemporary artists. Located in Manhattan’s Theater District, the space balances a serious music environment with the energy of a night out, where attentive audiences savor the performances without distraction. Booking ahead is essential, as the club fills quickly for its celebrated lineup.