Oscar Noriega's CROOKED QUARTET
Barbès376 9th St, New York 11215
Oscar Noriega brings his Crooked Quartet to Barbès, extending a project that grew from his long-running Friday Crooked Trio engagement at the room. Noriega conceived that trio as a vehicle for his drumming; this edition puts his focus on alto saxophone and clarinets. The quartet keeps the trio’s casual, open-ended set concept, moving between standards and Noriega compositions. The billing allows for a rotating cast of musicians, often including pianist Marta Sanchez, bassist Christopher Tordini, drummer Jason Nazary and trumpeter Justin Mullens, rather than promising one fixed lineup.
A composer and multi-instrumentalist, Noriega is also a member of Tim Berne’s Snakeoil, Endangered Blood, alongside Chris Speed, Jim Black and Trevor Dunn, and Boss Tenor. He co-leads the brass band Banda De Los Muertos with Jacob Garchik. His Crooked Trio became a familiar Barbès fixture through years of weekly Friday appearances, and its approach carries forward here: players working from standards alongside Noriega’s own material, with the personnel able to shift from one performance to the next. The supplied material does not identify a hometown for Noriega or the quartet, but it places this longstanding project firmly in the Barbès orbit.
Barbès offers a compact, warmly worn space where the music feels immediate and close, with a long wooden bar and a back room under a scarlet ceiling that hosts nightly performances. The venue champions a broad spectrum of global sounds, from Balkan brass and klezmer to Afrobeat and experimental jazz, often featuring residencies like the Slavic Soul Party. The audience gathers around small tables or at the bar, sharing drinks crafted with a nod to French spirits, while the music invites attentive listening rather than loud conversation. Shows usually have a suggested donation instead of a cover charge, creating a welcoming environment where the focus is on the artists. The venue’s commitment to accessibility and its role in Brooklyn’s cultural fabric make it a distinctive spot for an evening of richly diverse live music.