Miho Hazama and m_unit
The Pocket130 West 46th Street, New York 10036
Miho Hazama brings her jazz chamber orchestra, m_unit, to The Pocket for a late set. The multi-Grammy-nominated composer, arranger and conductor leads the acclaimed large ensemble behind Dancer In Nowhere, its Grammy-nominated album. Expect a program shaped by Hazama’s writing for jazz, orchestral and large-ensemble settings, presented by the composer who created m_unit.
Hazama has been named among DownBeat’s “25 for the Future” and has received the Charlie Parker Jazz Composition Prize, the Idemitsu Music Award and an ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award. Her work has featured Joshua Redman, Lionel Loueke, Christian McBride and Gil Goldstein, while her composing and arranging collaborations include Ryuichi Sakamoto, Vince Mendoza and the NHK Symphony Orchestra. Since 2019 she has served as Chief Conductor of the Danish Radio Big Band, alongside posts with the Metropole Orkest, Norwegian Radio Orchestra and New York Jazzharmonic. Jazz Times called m_unit “a classy large ensemble that keeps the listener guessing and enchanted,” adding that “something is always lurking and ready to pounce; then skitter away again.”
The Pocket offers a close-up encounter with world-class jazz musicians in a small, focused setting where every note feels immediate and unfiltered. The room is designed to bring listeners near the performers, creating a direct connection that makes the music feel personal and vivid. Seating is limited and arranged to emphasize attentive listening rather than casual socializing, with a bar available to complement the experience. Shows are ticketed, encouraging an audience that is there to fully engage with the performance. The venue’s location in Manhattan places it within easy reach of the city’s vibrant cultural pulse, making it a perfect spot for an evening dedicated to serious jazz appreciation without distractions.