Birdland Big Band New Year's Eve with Special Guest Emma Smith
Birdland315 West 44th Street, New York 10036
Birdland Big Band marks New Year's Eve with a late set featuring special guest Emma Smith. Directed by saxophonist David DeJesus, the ensemble brings its regular big-band approach to the occasion, alongside a special menu and a champagne toast with the band. The program draws on the group's original mix of jazz, funk, Brazilian, Latin and world music, with the celebration carrying the performance into the new year.
The Birdland Big Band plays every Friday and for two headlining weeks each year. Its guest artists have included players from television bands associated with David Letterman and Saturday Night Live, as well as pop touring bands. Time Out New York called the BBB "a completely unique experience... there isn't another band like this anywhere." DeJesus has been active on the New York City jazz scene since the late 1990s, performing with the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Mingus Big Band, Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Stars and Jimmy Heath's Big Band. In Latin jazz and salsa, he has shared stages with Ruben Blades, Larry Harlow, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Arturo O'Farrill and Tito Rodriguez Jr.; he also performs with Bobby Sanabria's Grammy-nominated big band and Ron Carter's Great Big Band.
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.