Billy Hart Quartet
Smoke Jazz Club2751 Broadway, New York 10025
Billy Hart brings his quartet to Smoke Jazz Club for a dinner-show set, with Hart on drums alongside Mark Turner on tenor saxophone, Ethan Iverson on piano, and Ben Street on bass. The group has been hailed by The New York Times as “one of the leading bands in jazz,” and this is a chance to hear a band built around Hart’s long-running rhythmic imagination in close conversation with three major players.
An NEA Jazz Master, Hart has been a central drummer in jazz for more than six decades. His performing and recording history includes Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, Miles Davis, Stan Getz, Shirley Horn, Jimmy Smith, Wes Montgomery, Otis Redding, and Sam & Dave. The venue describes his playing through rhythmic imagination, sensitivity, and fearless creativity. The Detroit Free Press heard “freedom, discipline, daring, passion, swing, broken rhythm, orchestral textures, interactive sparring, shocking dynamics, astounding creativity and authority,” then offered its own concise instruction: “Want to know what jazz is really about? Listen to Billy Hart.”
Smoke Jazz Club offers a refined evening where jazz takes center stage in a space defined by its candlelit tables, plush red velvet curtains, exposed brick walls, and antique chandeliers. The club spans two connected rooms: one designed for focused listening with impeccable acoustics and iconic jazz photography, and a second lounge featuring a historic full-length bar and café seating. Guests can enjoy classic American cuisine during the first set, which begins at 7pm, creating a supper club experience that blends dining with world-class performances. The venue showcases a mix of legendary artists, contemporary masters, and emerging talents, making each night a unique encounter with jazz artistry. The recent expansion has enhanced comfort without losing the close proximity to the stage that defines the club’s appeal.