Willerm Delisfort Quartet
Smalls183 West 10th Street, New York 10014
Willerm Delisfort leads a quartet at Smalls, with two sets across the evening. The pianist and composer founded The Delisfort Project as a vehicle for his own music.
Born in Little Haiti, Miami, Delisfort draws across jazz, gospel and R&B. His compositions address life’s “hurdles,” aiming for melodies, lyrics and harmonies that foster “awareness, love, discussion, understanding, empathy.” He has worked with Chicago musicians including Von and George Freeman, Ernest Dawkins, Fareed Haque, Marquis Hill, Makaya McCraven, Maurice Brown and Junius Paul; one listener described his music as “straight-ahead hard bop/post bop, with his own distinct voice.”
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.