Brandon Sanders Quartet
Smalls183 West 10th Street, New York 10014
Brandon Sanders leads a quartet with tenor saxophonist Stacy Dillard, pianist William Hill III and bassist Eric Wheeler. The group plays two sets at Smalls.
Born in Kansas City and raised in Los Angeles, Sanders is a jazz drummer and bandleader whose acoustic post-bop approach has been called “hard-swinging, yet sophisticated.” His sideman work includes appearances with Joe Lovano, Peter Bernstein and Esperanza Spalding.
Smalls is a basement jazz club where the music feels immediate and unfiltered, with the stage just a few feet from the audience. The room is compact, with simple seating that encourages close listening, and a bar that serves drinks but no full kitchen, so the focus stays on the performances. Shows typically feature multiple sets, often extending late into the night with jam sessions that invite spontaneous creativity. The club’s walls are adorned with photos and memorabilia that reflect its deep roots in New York’s jazz scene. The audience is there to listen intently, creating a shared experience where every note can be savored. Expect an evening where the energy of live jazz is palpable and the musicians’ passion fills the intimate space.