Lew Tabackin Quartet
Smalls183 West 10th Street, New York 10014
Lew Tabackin brings a quartet to Smalls for an early-evening set of tenor saxophone-led jazz. He is joined by trumpeter Joe Magnarelli, bassist Boris Kozlov and drummer Jason Tiemann, a four-piece lineup that places brass dialogue over bass and drums. The performance is part of Smalls' Sunday program, presented as a live-streamed concert from the club as well as an in-room show.
A flutist and tenor saxophonist who moved to New York, Tabackin has played with Tal Farlow, Don Friedman, Cab Calloway, Maynard Ferguson, Thad Jones and Mel Lewis. His long musical partnership with Toshiko Akiyoshi included quartet work and the award-winning Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra. Smalls calls him “an artist of astonishing vision,” and describes his flute playing as “virtuosic, primordial, cross-cultural, and passionate.” Its portrait of his tenor work points to wide intervals and abrupt shifts of mood, traits that suggest a player alert to contrast as much as flow.
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.