Mike Clark Quartet
Smalls183 West 10th Street, New York 10014
Drummer Mike Clark leads a quartet at Smalls, with Rico Jones on tenor sax, David Kikoski on piano and Alexander Claffy on bass.
A Bay Area drummer who later moved to New York, Clark is best known for his work with Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters, including Thrust. His collaborators have included John Scofield, Chet Baker, Nat Adderley, Tony Bennett and the Gil Evans Orchestra.
Smalls is a basement jazz club where the music feels immediate and unfiltered, with the stage just a few feet from the audience. The room is compact, with simple seating that encourages close listening, and a bar that serves drinks but no full kitchen, so the focus stays on the performances. Shows typically feature multiple sets, often extending late into the night with jam sessions that invite spontaneous creativity. The club’s walls are adorned with photos and memorabilia that reflect its deep roots in New York’s jazz scene. The audience is there to listen intently, creating a shared experience where every note can be savored. Expect an evening where the energy of live jazz is palpable and the musicians’ passion fills the intimate space.