John Raymond Quintet
Smalls183 West 10th Street, New York 10014
John Raymond brings his quintet to Smalls for two early-evening sets, led by Raymond on trumpet with Lucas Pino on tenor saxophone, Paul Cornish on piano, Pablo Menares on bass and Jay Sawyer on drums. The billing points to a five-piece acoustic jazz lineup, with trumpet and tenor at the front and piano, bass and drums supplying the rhythmic and harmonic frame. The performance will also be streamed live from the club.
The available information identifies the group as John Raymond’s quintet and identifies Raymond as its trumpeter, but offers no further biographical detail about the bandleader or this particular ensemble. It does, however, place the music in a working-band context: a quintet with a defined lineup rather than an unspecified jam-session cast. Pino, Cornish, Menares and Sawyer join Raymond for the night, giving the set a personnel-specific shape built around trumpet, tenor saxophone, piano, bass and drums.
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.