Hannah Marks Quartet
Smalls183 West 10th Street, New York 10014
Hannah Marks brings her quartet to Smalls for two early-evening sets. Marks leads on double bass, but the listing does not name the other musicians for this date. The group’s established personnel has included alto saxophonist Nathan Reising, drummer Steven Crammer and, in different lineups, pianists Lex Korten or Yvonne Rogers. Expect a quartet setting built around Marks’ writing and room for improvisation, with the club also streaming the performance live.
New York City bassist, composer and bandleader Hannah Marks leads a group described as “edgy, young NYC-based jazz musicians,” with a “fearless and improvisatory focus.” Its repertoire combines original compositions with music by Geri Allen, Dewey Redman and Paul Motian, and its musical reference points include the Branford Marsalis Quartet, Miles Davis’ Second Quintet and Keith Jarrett’s American Quartet. Beyond her own band, Marks has worked with Geoffrey Keezer, Nasheet Waits, Terri Lyne Carrington, Anna Webber, Miles Okazaki, Ingrid Jensen and Marcus Printup. Printup praised her bass playing for its “fresh, modern, and original approach to playing the bass.”
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.