ETHAN IVERSON SEXTET
Village Vanguard178 7th Avenue South, New York 10014
Ethan Iverson brings his sextet to the Village Vanguard for the late set on November 4. The pianist is joined by Skylar Tang on trumpet, Sam Newsome on saxophone, Jacob Garchik on trombone, Peter Washington on bass and Kush Abadey on drums. The group has been described as an all-star sextet playing “amusing originals and tough standards,” a format that gives Iverson’s writing and the players’ individual voices room to meet the jazz repertoire head-on.
Iverson is a pianist and composer who helped form The Bad Plus, called a “revolutionary and wildly successful avant-garde trio.” His work has appeared on ECM and Blue Note, and his collaborators include Tom Harrell, Mark Turner, Ron Carter, Tootie Heath and Jack DeJohnette. He has also been a longtime member of the Billy Hart Quartet. DownBeat calls him “A master of melody,” while Stereophile hears “a natural, consistent crowd-pleaser” in his playing. With Washington and Abadey anchoring the rhythm section and a three-horn front line, this sextet places Iverson in a broader ensemble setting than his best-known trio work.
A narrow basement staircase leads to a triangular room with a red curtain and a stage at the point, where musicians play for a small audience of 123. Tables open like spokes from the stage, and the walls hold portraits of jazz legends. The acoustics are excellent, and the only sound before the music begins is the hum of the room. No food is served, only drinks at a bar. Shows start at 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., with seating beginning at 7:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. respectively. The atmosphere is focused entirely on the music, with silence requested before the concert begins.