MATTHEW STEVENS - Josh Johnson - Kyle Miles - Eric Doob
Close Up154 Orchard St, New York 10002
Matthew Stevens brings a quartet to Close Up, with Stevens on guitar, Josh Johnson on saxophone, Kyle Miles on bass and Eric Doob on drums. The group plays two sets, drawing attention to Stevens’s self-titled new album for Candid Records. That record explores the space between acoustic and electric sound through original compositions and personal covers, and this band is the album’s core lineup. The album also includes appearances by Terri Lyne Carrington, Jeff Parker, Joel Ross, Anna B Savage and Corey King.
Canadian guitarist, producer and songwriter Stevens is best known as “an in-demand side man on the New York scene,” while building a substantial body of work as a leader. He has toured and recorded with Esperanza Spalding, Chief Adjuah, Harvey Mason, Dave Douglas and Walter Smith III. Writers have called him “a guitarist’s guitarist,” citing his “impressive technical command” and “breezy aplomb.” PostGenre heard his self-titled album as “colorful” and “highly textured,” calling it his “crowning achievement to date as a leader.”
Close Up offers a focused jazz experience in a sleek, minimalist space on Manhattan's Lower East Side, where the sound system and acoustics bring every note into sharp relief. The venue features a small back room that invites close connection with the performers, creating a setting where music is the main event and distractions are minimal. Shows run six nights a week with multiple sets, encouraging a deep dive into the music rather than a casual night out. A bar serves Latin American-inspired bites and cocktails, complementing the listening experience without overwhelming it. The crowd tends to be attentive, drawn by the artist-driven programming that blends classic jazz traditions with fresh, innovative sounds. This is a place to settle in, listen closely, and savor the evolving jazz scene in a refined yet approachable environment.