MAX POLLAK
Max Pollak, Nicki Denner, Jennifer Vincent, Samuel Torres, Camila Aldet
The Jazz Gallery1160 Broadway, New York 10001
Max Pollak marks 40 years as a professional performer with a concert honoring his unconventional path and influential mentors, with surprise guests expected. Pollak handles vocals, percussion and tap alongside Nicki Denner on piano, Jennifer Vincent on bass, Samuel Torres on percussion, and Camila Aldet on vocals and tap. The program brings together instrumental and vocal music with percussive dance.
Austrian-born Pollak is a musician, bandleader, composer, educator and percussive dancer known for treating tap, body percussion and voice as parts of the ensemble. He has performed with Ray Brown, Chucho Valdés, Paquito D’Rivera, Pedrito Martinez, Danilo Pérez, Diana Damrau and Zubin Mehta, and co-created the Off-Broadway show Carmen: To Havana and Back.
The Jazz Gallery offers a focused listening room experience on the fifth floor of a Midtown office building, where the audience gathers to hear progressive jazz performed by emerging and established artists. The space is designed to highlight the music without distractions: seating is arranged to bring listeners close to the performers, fostering a direct connection with the sound. There is no food service, but a bar is available, and ticket prices are modest, encouraging accessibility. Shows typically run from 7 to 11 pm on select nights, featuring multiple sets that invite deep engagement rather than casual socializing. The venue’s commitment to artistic growth is evident in its support for new compositions and collaborations, making an evening here a chance to witness jazz as a living, evolving art form in a setting that respects both the musicians and the audience.