Charles McPherson Quintet featuring Terell Stafford
Smoke Jazz Club2751 Broadway, New York 10025
Charles McPherson brings his hard-swinging quintet to Smoke Jazz Club for a dinner show, with trumpeter Terell Stafford featured alongside him. McPherson plays alto saxophone, joined by Stafford on trumpet, Jeb Patton on piano, David Wong on bass, and Billy Drummond on drums. The five-piece band puts McPherson’s blues-rooted bebop language into a classic frontline setting, with piano, bass, and drums driving the set.
Born in Joplin, Missouri, McPherson moved to Detroit as a child before making his way to New York. Over more than six decades, the alto saxophonist has performed with Charles Mingus, Barry Harris, Billy Eckstine, Nat Adderley, Jay McShann, Phil Woods, Wynton Marsalis, James Moody, Dizzy Gillespie, and others; his official biography notes a 1960 to 1972 tenure with Mingus. Jazziz wrote that no jazz musician of the past 60 years has “more palpably channeled the sound of Charlie Parker,” while DownBeat hears “the traditional weight of bebop and swing” in his writing, “buoyed with an inventive, contemporary spark.”
Smoke Jazz Club offers a refined evening where jazz takes center stage in a space defined by its candlelit tables, plush red velvet curtains, exposed brick walls, and antique chandeliers. The club spans two connected rooms: one designed for focused listening with impeccable acoustics and iconic jazz photography, and a second lounge featuring a historic full-length bar and café seating. Guests can enjoy classic American cuisine during the first set, which begins at 7pm, creating a supper club experience that blends dining with world-class performances. The venue showcases a mix of legendary artists, contemporary masters, and emerging talents, making each night a unique encounter with jazz artistry. The recent expansion has enhanced comfort without losing the close proximity to the stage that defines the club’s appeal.