Amanda Monaco Quartet
Smalls183 West 10th Street, New York 10014
Amanda Monaco leads a quartet with Lauren Sevian on baritone saxophone, Jason Yeager on organ and Paul Francis on drums. The group plays two sets at Smalls.
A New York City-based guitarist and composer, Monaco writes original music described as mixing post-bop, avant-garde and Middle Eastern flavors. She has performed with Milt Hinton, Steve Wilson, Rufus Reid and the Mingus Orchestra. The New York City Jazz Record called her playing “well within the modernist canon, but quite distinctive,” citing “tartly dissonant chords” and “insistent yet off-kilter repetitions.”
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.