Kenny Barron Sextet
Village Vanguard178 7th Avenue South, New York 10014
On Tuesday, December 15, Kenny Barron brings the Kenny Barron Sextet to Village Vanguard in Manhattan. The event information identifies the act by that sextet billing and does not list personnel beyond Kenny Barron’s name. The group will play in the club’s triangular basement room, reached by a narrow staircase, with a red curtain behind the stage at the room’s point. Its 123 seats are arranged at tables that open from the stage like spokes. Portraits of jazz legends line the walls; drinks are available at the bar, while no food is served. The room’s acoustics and the club’s request for silence before the concert put the focus squarely on the performance.
No additional biographical information about Kenny Barron or this sextet is provided with the event. The available material does not state where the act comes from, identify its personnel, describe its repertoire or musical approach, list collaborators, or quote any reviews. What is confirmed is the billed formation: a sextet billed under Kenny Barron’s name, appearing at Village Vanguard.
A narrow basement staircase leads to a triangular room with a red curtain and a stage at the point, where musicians play for a small audience of 123. Tables open like spokes from the stage, and the walls hold portraits of jazz legends. The acoustics are excellent, and the only sound before the music begins is the hum of the room. No food is served, only drinks at a bar. Shows start at 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., with seating beginning at 7:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. respectively. The atmosphere is focused entirely on the music, with silence requested before the concert begins.