Troy Roberts Quartet – A Tribute to Stanley Turrentine
Birdland315 West 44th Street, New York 10036
Troy Roberts leads his quartet in a tribute to tenor saxophone titan Stanley Turrentine. The program is presented as a musical “tip of the hat” to one of Roberts’ greatest saxophone influences, with the group delving into the soulful side of jazz. The other members of the quartet are not named in the listing, but Roberts frames the night around Turrentine’s music rather than an original-project set.
Australian-born and now based in New York City, Roberts is a three-time Grammy-nominated saxophonist, prolific leader and widely recorded sideman with sixteen releases to his name. His work has appeared alongside Joey DeFrancesco, Van Morrison, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Orrin Evans’ Captain Black Big Band and Kurt Elling. JazzTimes calls him “versatile in style, with a strong grasp of yesterday and today” and “one to follow closely.” DownBeat describes his playing as “boisterous and effusive,” yet “conversant but not busy,” an apt set of qualities for a player taking on Turrentine’s melodic, blues-aware legacy.
Birdland offers a refined jazz experience in a room where the audience sits at tables close to the stage, allowing every note to reach you clearly. The venue features a full menu with dishes like New Orleans-style gumbo alongside a well-stocked bar, making it easy to enjoy a meal or drinks while listening. Each show is ticketed per set, encouraging focused listening as the music unfolds in roughly 45-minute segments. The club’s walls echo decades of jazz history, having hosted legends and continuing to attract top contemporary artists. Located in Manhattan’s Theater District, the space balances a serious music environment with the energy of a night out, where attentive audiences savor the performances without distraction. Booking ahead is essential, as the club fills quickly for its celebrated lineup.