Charles McPherson Quintet featuring Terell Stafford
Smoke Jazz Club2751 Broadway, New York 10025
Charles McPherson brings his hard-swinging quintet to Smoke Jazz Club, with trumpeter Terell Stafford featured alongside pianist Jeb Patton, bassist David Wong, and drummer Billy Drummond. McPherson leads on alto saxophone in a set rooted in blues and bebop. The evening is presented as a dinner show.
Born in Joplin, Missouri, and raised in Detroit, McPherson studied with pianist Barry Harris before moving to New York in 1959. Over more than six decades, the bebop master has performed with Barry Harris, Billy Eckstine, Nat Adderley, Jay McShann, Phil Woods, Wynton Marsalis, James Moody, Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Mingus, and Lionel Hampton. Jazziz wrote that “No jazz musician of the past 60 years has more palpably channeled the sound of Charlie Parker” than McPherson. DownBeat hears his writing as carrying “the traditional weight of bebop and swing, buoyed with an inventive, contemporary spark,” while a review of Reverence, recorded live at Smoke with this quintet, praised its “heart, elegance, and a fluid virtuosity.”
Smoke Jazz Club offers a refined evening where jazz takes center stage in a space defined by its candlelit tables, plush red velvet curtains, exposed brick walls, and antique chandeliers. The club spans two connected rooms: one designed for focused listening with impeccable acoustics and iconic jazz photography, and a second lounge featuring a historic full-length bar and café seating. Guests can enjoy classic American cuisine during the first set, which begins at 7pm, creating a supper club experience that blends dining with world-class performances. The venue showcases a mix of legendary artists, contemporary masters, and emerging talents, making each night a unique encounter with jazz artistry. The recent expansion has enhanced comfort without losing the close proximity to the stage that defines the club’s appeal.