Tommy Campbell Sextet
Smalls183 West 10th Street, New York 10014
Tommy Campbell brings a sextet to Smalls for two sets, with Campbell on drums alongside vocalist Kayla Arthur, trombonist Ron Wilkins, guitarist Donny Sakulprasertying, pianist Daniel Zawel and bassist Gianluca Renzi. The personnel point to a band built around Campbell’s playing while making room for voice, brass and guitar in the arrangements. It is a live-streamed evening at the Manhattan club, presenting the group across an early and later performance.
Campbell grew up outside Philadelphia and is identified by Smalls as a Willow Grove native. A drummer who also works with small percussion, he developed his Vocal~Eyes concept during his time with The Manhattan Transfer, blending jazz grooves with vocal melodies and syncopated lyrics and drawing on material from bebop, ethnic music and hip-hop. His official biography lists regular work with Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, John McLaughlin, The Manhattan Transfer, Kevin Eubanks, Jimmy Smith, Stanley Jordan, Tania Maria and Gary Burton. His own materials call his drumming “intelligent, exciting and stylistically authentic,” and praise its subtlety “in the pocket.”
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.