Kenny Barron Sextet
Village Vanguard178 7th Avenue South, New York 10014
Kenny Barron brings his billed Sextet to the Village Vanguard for an evening set. The available information identifies Barron as the group’s pianist, but does not confirm the six-member lineup for this date, so the rest of the personnel remains unspecified. Expect a bandstand led by a player whose work encompasses driving bebop, delicate ballads, bounding calypso and rhythms drawn from across Brazil.
A longtime figure in New York jazz, Barron has built a career as both a bandleader and a sought-after collaborator. He has played with Dizzy Gillespie, Yusef Lateef and Stan Getz, and co-founded Sphere, the group known for interpreting Thelonious Monk’s music. NPR calls him “one of New York’s most talented and tasteful keyboard players,” a description that fits the breadth and detail of his recorded work. The same profile notes his role as “a mentor to young musicians,” placing this Vanguard appearance in the continuing work of a pianist with deep roots in the city’s jazz community.
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.