Birdland Big Band with Special Guest Emma Smith
Birdland315 West 44th Street, New York 10036
Birdland Big Band marks New Year’s Eve with special guest Emma Smith, in a big-band set directed by David DeJesus. The group brings its regular Birdland program to the occasion, drawing from a mix of jazz, funk, Brazilian, Latin and world music. Smith is billed as the evening’s special guest; the available information does not specify her role or the band’s full lineup.
The Birdland Big Band is a New York club band led by saxophonist David DeJesus, a fixture of the city’s jazz scene since the late 1990s. DeJesus has performed with the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Mingus Big Band, Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Stars and Jimmy Heath’s Big Band, and has shared stages with Rubén Blades, Larry Harlow, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Arturo O’Farrill and Tito Rodríguez Jr. He also leads the group while playing with the Bobby Sanabria Big Band and Ron Carter’s Great Big Band. Time Out New York called the BBB “a completely unique experience... there isn’t another band like this anywhere,” while Yelp advised listeners to “prepare to be blown away!”
Birdland offers a refined jazz experience in a room where the audience sits at tables close to the stage, allowing every note to reach you clearly. The venue features a full menu with dishes like New Orleans-style gumbo alongside a well-stocked bar, making it easy to enjoy a meal or drinks while listening. Each show is ticketed per set, encouraging focused listening as the music unfolds in roughly 45-minute segments. The club’s walls echo decades of jazz history, having hosted legends and continuing to attract top contemporary artists. Located in Manhattan’s Theater District, the space balances a serious music environment with the energy of a night out, where attentive audiences savor the performances without distraction. Booking ahead is essential, as the club fills quickly for its celebrated lineup.