Kenny Barron Quartet
Village Vanguard178 7th Avenue South, New York 10014
Kenny Barron brings a quartet to the Village Vanguard for this Manhattan date. The bill names the Kenny Barron Quartet, though no individual personnel are listed for the performance. In the Vanguard’s triangular downstairs room, the stage sits at the point of the space, surrounded by tables and portraits of jazz figures; the house asks for silence before the music begins, keeping the focus on the set.
A Philadelphia native and pianist, Barron has been described by NPR as “one of New York’s most talented and tasteful keyboard players.” His long career includes work with Dizzy Gillespie, Yusef Lateef and Stan Getz, and he co-founded Sphere, a group devoted to interpreting Thelonious Monk’s music. NPR has also noted Barron leading “a quartet of young instrumentalists.” Getz’s assessment, quoted by Tom Reney, catches the quality of his playing: “He never plays too much, he never plays too little. He never strains. He flows.” The BBC’s Dave Gelly called Barron’s “imaginative fluency” remarkable.
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.