David Finck Quintet
Birdland315 West 44th Street, New York 10036
David Finck brings his quintet to Birdland for a set built around five established New York jazz players. Finck plays bass alongside Joe Locke on vibes, Sam Dillon on tenor saxophone, Tedd Firth on piano, and drummer Dennis Mackrel. The engagement puts a rhythm section with piano at the core, with Locke’s vibraphone and Dillon’s tenor adding the front line. Birdland presents the group as a special engagement, with the band playing sophisticated, swinging and spontaneous jazz.
Finck is a New York bassist whose work appears on more than 250 recordings, including multi-platinum, Gold and Grammy Award-winning releases. He has been the bassist of choice for André Previn, Hank Jones, Kenny Rankin, Steve Kuhn and Slide Hampton, and has recorded with artists including George Michael, Tony Bennett, Gladys Knight, Rod Stewart, Natalie Cole and Rosemary Clooney. His releases include Future Day, Low Standards, BASSically Jazz and BASSic Instinct. He has also produced recordings for Tom Wopat, John Basile, Carol Fredette, Melissa Errico and Christy Baron. The supporting players bring their own credentials: Locke is an acclaimed vibraphonist, Firth is a pianist and arranger, and Mackrel is a Grammy Award-winning drummer.
Birdland offers a refined jazz experience in a room where the audience sits at tables close to the stage, allowing every note to reach you clearly. The venue features a full menu with dishes like New Orleans-style gumbo alongside a well-stocked bar, making it easy to enjoy a meal or drinks while listening. Each show is ticketed per set, encouraging focused listening as the music unfolds in roughly 45-minute segments. The club’s walls echo decades of jazz history, having hosted legends and continuing to attract top contemporary artists. Located in Manhattan’s Theater District, the space balances a serious music environment with the energy of a night out, where attentive audiences savor the performances without distraction. Booking ahead is essential, as the club fills quickly for its celebrated lineup.