Ricky Rodriguez Quartet
Smalls183 West 10th Street, New York 10014
Ricky Rodriguez brings his quartet to Smalls for a late-night performance in the club’s basement room. Rodriguez plays bass, joined by John Ellis on tenor sax, Aaron Goldberg on piano and Jimmy Macbride on drums. The billing presents a working quartet rather than a guest-led event or tribute, with two appearances by the same band during the evening. In Smalls’ compact, close-listening setting, the bass, tenor, piano and drums lineup puts the group’s interplay in clear focus.
Rodriguez is the bassist at the heart of this four-piece band, with Ellis, Goldberg and Macbride completing the personnel named for the night. Ellis is listed on tenor saxophone, Goldberg on piano and Macbride on drums, establishing the quartet’s acoustic jazz instrumentation: bass supporting and conversing with saxophone, piano and drums. No additional project, release, hometown, prior collaborators or critical notices are given for the Ricky Rodriguez Quartet here. What is clear is the specific ensemble assembled for this Smalls date, a four-musician group built around Rodriguez’s bass.
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.