Jim Ridl Quartet
Smalls183 West 10th Street, New York 10014
Jim Ridl Quartet is billed at Smalls for an early-evening four-piece jazz set. The available description of the group’s format places Ridl on piano with saxophone, bass and drums, though the personnel for this particular date has not been announced. In Smalls’ basement room, where stage and listeners are only a few feet apart, the focus will be on the quartet’s interplay: piano-led improvisation shaped in real time by the full band.
Ridl is a New York City-based pianist, composer and teacher who was raised on a North Dakota farm and ranch. He is widely described as a “musician’s musician,” a phrase sharpened by The New Yorker’s assessment: “A veteran pianist who also spent considerable time in the trenches and is now a respected musician’s musician.” His work has taken him around the world in performance and recording with Joe Locke, Paul Jost, Dave Liebman and the Mingus Big Band. He also spent ten years with guitarist Pat Martino, a substantial chapter in a career built around sideman depth as well as his own bandleading.
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.