ETHAN IVERSON SEXTET
Village Vanguard178 7th Avenue South, New York 10014
Ethan Iverson brings his sextet to the Village Vanguard for a six-piece program of original music and standards. For this Friday in the group’s November 3 to 8 run, the Vanguard lists Iverson alongside Sam Newsome, Jacob Garchik, Peter Washington, Kush Abadey and trumpeter Skylar Tang. The Jazz Gallery has described the band’s book as “amusing originals and tough standards,” while Iverson has spoken of the pleasure of “orchestrating for three horns.”
Iverson is a pianist and composer who left high school in Wisconsin for New York in 1991. His sextet puts his writing in a larger ensemble setting, with the horn-focused arranging he has singled out as a particular interest. DownBeat calls him “a master of melody”; Hot House praises his “intellectual depth and adventurous musical spirit,” saying he has “traversed the boundaries of jazz tradition.” Stereophile, meanwhile, called him “a natural, consistent crowd-pleaser.”
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.