Roberta Piket/Billy Mintz Quintet
Smalls183 West 10th Street, New York 10014
Roberta Piket leads a quintet with tenor saxophonist Peter Brainin, guitarist Pete McCann, bassist Mary Ann McSweeney and drummer Billy Mintz. The group brings Piket's piano-led writing and improvisation to Smalls.
A native New Yorker, Piket is a pianist and organist whose work balances swing with adventurous harmonic possibilities in jazz and improvised music. She has performed with David Liebman, Rufus Reid, Michael Formanek, Lionel Hampton, Mickey Roker and Benny Golson; critics have praised her “probing lyricism and creative fluency.”
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.