STEVE LEHMAN TRIO + Joel Ross
Close Up154 Orchard St, New York 10002
Steve Lehman’s trio comes to Close Up with vibraphonist Joel Ross as guest, making this a four-musician bill built around Lehman’s group rather than a solo appearance. The supplied listing names Lehman alongside Ross, bassist Chris Tordini and drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts. No further program or theme is specified, so the focus is the meeting of Lehman’s trio format with Ross’s added voice.
Born in New York City, Lehman is a composer, performer and educator whose work spans “a broad spectrum of experimental musical idioms.” A virtuoso alto saxophonist and, in Sam First’s phrase, a “state-of-the-art musical thinker,” he has worked with Anthony Braxton, Vijay Iyer, George Lewis, Meshell Ndegeocello, Bennie Maupin, Jason Moran, Georgia Anne Muldrow and High Priest. Ross has been described by Sam First as an “internationally renowned vibraphonist.” Lehman’s The People I Love made The New York Times’ 2019 Top 10 Jazz Recordings list, while critics have praised the trio’s collaborative improvisation as “executed … at the highest level,” “top-drawer improvisation,” and “exceptional throughout.”
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.