Santi DeBriano Quintet
Smalls183 West 10th Street, New York 10014
Santi DeBriano brings a quintet to Smalls for two sets on December 26. DeBriano plays bass, joined by Michael Cruse on trumpet, Tommy Morimoto on tenor saxophone, Ray Scro on baritone saxophone, and Rudy Royston on drums. The configuration puts two saxophones and trumpet alongside bass and drums, with no piano or guitar listed. Both sets will be streamed live by SmallsLIVE, whose archive documents performances from Smalls and Mezzrow.
DeBriano is the billed leader of this five-piece group and is listed here on bass. Cruse, Morimoto, Scro, and Royston make up the announced personnel for the evening. No further biographical details, prior collaborations, recording history, hometown, or critical quotations for the Santi DeBriano Quintet are provided with this event. What is clear from the listing is the group’s particular instrumentation: trumpet, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, bass, and drums. That gives the night a horn-fronted quintet format, with DeBriano’s bass and Royston’s drums forming the rhythm section beneath the three announced wind players.
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.