Birdland Big Band feat. Emma Smith
Birdland315 West 44th Street, New York 10036
Birdland Big Band, directed by David DeJesus, takes the Birdland stage with special guest Emma Smith. The band’s regular Friday residency is built around a thrilling, original mix of jazz, funk, Brazilian, Latin and world music, with a big-band set that makes room for a featured vocalist. This is a focused evening performance from one of the club’s recurring ensembles.
The Birdland Big Band has a long-running Friday home at the Manhattan club and has welcomed weekly guests drawn from television bands including David Letterman’s and Saturday Night Live’s, as well as touring groups for Rob Thomas and Rod Stewart. Time Out New York called the BBB “a completely unique experience... there isn't another band like this anywhere.” Smith is a Parliamentary Jazz Vocalist of the Year winner whose collaborators include Michael Bublé, the Quincy Jones Orchestra, Jeff Goldblum, and the Jeremy Pelt / Wayne Escoffery quintet. Her appearance places a vocalist with wide-ranging jazz and pop-world experience in front of the band’s established weekly ensemble.
Birdland offers a refined jazz experience in a room where the audience sits at tables close to the stage, allowing every note to reach you clearly. The venue features a full menu with dishes like New Orleans-style gumbo alongside a well-stocked bar, making it easy to enjoy a meal or drinks while listening. Each show is ticketed per set, encouraging focused listening as the music unfolds in roughly 45-minute segments. The club’s walls echo decades of jazz history, having hosted legends and continuing to attract top contemporary artists. Located in Manhattan’s Theater District, the space balances a serious music environment with the energy of a night out, where attentive audiences savor the performances without distraction. Booking ahead is essential, as the club fills quickly for its celebrated lineup.