Mike Clark Quartet
Smalls183 West 10th Street, New York 10014
Mike Clark brings a quartet to Smalls with Craig Handy on tenor sax, Mike LeDonne on piano, Jeff Carney on bass, and Clark on drums. It is a four-player jazz set built around a drummer whose work has long connected direct swing to deep funk, with tenor, piano and bass giving the music room for both ensemble conversation and individual improvisation. The show is also being streamed live from the club.
Born in Sacramento, Clark is a jazz drummer closely associated with Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters. Smalls’ artist profile says he “hasn’t lost any of the stuff that he brought from Oakland,” while another profile notes collaborations with Chet Baker, Wayne Shorter, Bobby Hutcherson, Tony Bennett and Vince Guaraldi. His recorded work has drawn praise for its “listening, interplay” and “swing.” Reviewing Kuon Ganjo, Jazz Journal called his playing “funky” and “sizzling,” saying it drives “no-nonsense, straightahead jazz,” though the same review found the drums and bass “a little heavy at times.”
Smalls is a basement jazz club where the music feels immediate and unfiltered, with the stage just a few feet from the audience. The room is compact, with simple seating that encourages close listening, and a bar that serves drinks but no full kitchen, so the focus stays on the performances. Shows typically feature multiple sets, often extending late into the night with jam sessions that invite spontaneous creativity. The club’s walls are adorned with photos and memorabilia that reflect its deep roots in New York’s jazz scene. The audience is there to listen intently, creating a shared experience where every note can be savored. Expect an evening where the energy of live jazz is palpable and the musicians’ passion fills the intimate space.