Craig Handy and 2nd Line Smith
The Django2 6th Avenue, New York 10013
Craig Handy brings 2nd Line Smith to The Django for a late-night set built around New Orleans music and groove-filled reworkings of originals and standards associated with the late organist Jimmy Smith. Handy plays saxophone with Matt Chertkoff on guitar, Kyle Koehler on organ, Kenny Bentley on sousaphone, and Donald Edward on drums. The five-piece lineup puts organ, sousaphone and drums at the core of Handy’s project while leaving room for guitar and saxophone in the arrangements.
Handy began his career alongside jazz masters Art Blakey, Roy Haynes, Abdullah Ibrahim and the Mingus Dynasty Band. By his late twenties, he was known for technical mastery, “prodigious post-bop talent,” and a versatility heard in his work with singers Betty Carter and Dee Dee Bridgewater. His subsequent touring and performing credits include Herbie Hancock, Cedar Walton, Wynton Marsalis and The Cookers. This current band channels those years of jazz experience into a project specifically shaped by New Orleans sounds and Jimmy Smith’s repertoire, with Handy leading the group on saxophone.
The Django offers a subterranean jazz experience inspired by Parisian boîtes, with vaulted ceilings and exposed brick walls that frame a stage equipped with a state-of-the-art Meyer Sound system. The venue combines two cocktail bars and an open dining area where you can enjoy an elevated menu alongside live performances every night. The evening unfolds with a focus on attentive listening, enhanced by award-winning cocktails crafted by Natasha David and a selection of small plates and dinner options. Shows require a cover charge and reservations are recommended to secure your spot. The setting invites you to settle in for a night of rich jazz sounds, fine food, and carefully mixed drinks, all within the cellar level of the Roxy Hotel, creating a distinct mood that feels both exclusive and welcoming.