STEVE LEHMAN TRIO + Joel Ross
Close Up154 Orchard St, New York 10002
Steve Lehman Trio is billed at Close Up with Joel Ross. The supplied information confirms the pairing but does not establish the trio’s personnel for this date or how Ross will join the group, so the night is best understood as a Lehman trio performance featuring Ross rather than a confirmed four-musician lineup. No further details about the program or set have been provided.
Born in New York City, Lehman is a composer, performer, educator, and scholar whose work spans “a broad spectrum of experimental musical idioms.” His long-running trio has included bassist Matt Brewer and drummer Damion Reid, though that lineup is not confirmed here; Bandcamp highlights its “telepathic interplay and stop-on-a-dime maneuvers.” The Jazz Mann called the trio “tight and focused,” with “sharp and consistently intelligent” interaction, while Earshot Jazz described its collaborative improvisation as taking place “at the highest level.” Ross is a Chicago-born, Brooklyn-based vibraphonist and composer who draws on “the broad, resonating tradition of Black music.” He has worked with Makaya McCraven, Melissa Aldana, Walter Smith III, Georgia Anne Muldrow, and Marquis Hill; DownBeat has described his playing as “high-powered and full of luminous energy.”
Close Up offers a focused jazz experience in a sleek, minimalist space on Manhattan's Lower East Side, where the sound system and acoustics bring every note into sharp relief. The venue features a small back room that invites close connection with the performers, creating a setting where music is the main event and distractions are minimal. Shows run six nights a week with multiple sets, encouraging a deep dive into the music rather than a casual night out. A bar serves Latin American-inspired bites and cocktails, complementing the listening experience without overwhelming it. The crowd tends to be attentive, drawn by the artist-driven programming that blends classic jazz traditions with fresh, innovative sounds. This is a place to settle in, listen closely, and savor the evolving jazz scene in a refined yet approachable environment.