Tommy Campbell Sextet
Smalls183 West 10th Street, New York 10014
Tommy Campbell brings a sextet to Smalls for a two-set evening, leading from the drums with Kayla Arthur on vocals, Ron Wilkins on trombone, Donny Sakulprasertying on guitar, Daniel Zawel on piano and Gianluca Renzi on bass. The group places Campbell’s drumming inside a six-piece lineup that combines voice, brass and rhythm-section players, rather than presenting him in a drum-feature setting. The performance will also be streamed live from the club.
Campbell grew up outside Philadelphia and is also described as a Norristown, Pennsylvania native. A drummer, musician and educator, he developed his Vocal~Eyes concept while playing with the Manhattan Transfer. His own description of the music connects jazz groove with vocal melodies and syncopated lyrics, with influences ranging from bebop through ethnic music and hip-hop. His long list of collaborators includes Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, John McLaughlin, the Manhattan Transfer, Kevin Eubanks, Jimmy Smith, Stanley Jordan, Tania Maria and Gary Burton. All About Jazz has called his playing “intelligent, exciting and stylistically authentic.” The Django has also noted his crowd-rousing use of rubber animals in drum solos, a detail that suggests the showmanship alongside the deep bandstand experience.
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.