TONY MALABY - Ralph Alessi - Sean Conly - Billy Drummond
Tony Malaby, Ralph Alessi, Sean Conly, Billy Drummond
Close Up154 Orchard St, New York 10002
Tony Malaby leads a four-piece at Close Up with Ralph Alessi on trumpet, Sean Conly on bass and Billy Drummond on drums. Malaby plays soprano and tenor saxophone in this pair of sets, bringing together four musicians for an evening rooted in New York’s improvised-music tradition.
Malaby has been an integral part of New York City’s improvised music community for two decades, having arrived in the city in the early 1990s. The saxophonist and composer has built a wide-ranging body of projects around a voice the listing calls wholly unique and singular. DownBeat described him as “a formidably accomplished soprano and tenor saxophonist with enviable tone and an endless font of compelling ideas,” adding that he “steers his music away from perfection”; the magazine also noted that his gifts as a melodist “tend to sneak up on you.” JazzTimes called Malaby “a hero of today’s improvised music scene.”
Close Up offers a focused jazz experience in a sleek, minimalist space on Manhattan's Lower East Side, where the sound system and acoustics bring every note into sharp relief. The venue features a small back room that invites close connection with the performers, creating a setting where music is the main event and distractions are minimal. Shows run six nights a week with multiple sets, encouraging a deep dive into the music rather than a casual night out. A bar serves Latin American-inspired bites and cocktails, complementing the listening experience without overwhelming it. The crowd tends to be attentive, drawn by the artist-driven programming that blends classic jazz traditions with fresh, innovative sounds. This is a place to settle in, listen closely, and savor the evolving jazz scene in a refined yet approachable environment.