CHRIS LEWIS - Dan Nimmer - Phillip Norris - Nazir Ebo
Close Up154 Orchard St, New York 10002
Chris Lewis leads a saxophone quartet at Close Up with Dan Nimmer on piano, Phillip Norris on bass, and Nazir Ebo on drums. The evening is presented in two sets, with Lewis bringing together a working group built around saxophone, piano, bass, and drums. Lewis is billed not only as the leader but as a composer and educator whose playing moves between his own projects and sideman work.
A multi-award-winning saxophonist, Lewis is a member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis and also leads his own quartet. His credits include performances with Herbie Hancock, Christian McBride, Michael Bublé, Eric Reed, Terell Stafford, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Julius Rodriguez, and Sean Mason, plus work with the Maria Schneider Orchestra, Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Mingus Big Band, Count Basie Orchestra, John Beasley’s MONK’estra, and The Gil Evans Project. At 30, he had appeared on more than 30 recordings, and his screen work includes The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Godfather of Harlem, The Bride, and The Gilded Age. Lewis teaches at Temple University, Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Summer Jazz Academy, and the Litchfield Jazz Camp.
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.