Dayna Stephens – saxophones & EWI Jalen Baker – vibraphone Fabian Almazan – piano & keyboards Dezron Douglas – bass Johnathan Blake – drums “Blake is a drummer of volcanic power and deep soul, and Pentad is one of the most dynamic working bands in jazz today.” —NPR Music Drummer and composer Johnathan Blake—whose dynamic playing, artistic vision, and innate versatility led NPR to call him “the ultimate modernist” — celebrates the release of his new album on Blue Note Records, “My Life Matters,” with his always rewarding quintet, Pentad. The group features Dayna Stephens on saxophones and EWI (electronic wind instrument), Jalen Baker on vibraphone, Fabian Almazan on piano and keyboard, and Dezron Douglas on bass. The New York Times says, “Blake’s drumming is as bold as thunder and as subtle as the patter of rain.” The Guardian adds, “his command of time is quite unbelievable – tricky and playful but accurate to the millisecond.” His new My Life Matters is a suite of songs that serves as a dual treatise on the importance of family values and the social imperative to stand up in the face of injustice. 

Dayna Stephens – saxophones & EWI Jalen Baker – vibraphone Fabian Almazan – piano & keyboards Dezron Douglas – bass Johnathan Blake – drums “Blake is a drummer of volcanic power and deep soul, and Pentad is one of the most dynamic working bands in jazz today.” —NPR Music Drummer and composer Johnathan Blake—whose dynamic playing, artistic vision, and innate versatility led NPR to call him “the ultimate modernist” — celebrates the release of his new album on Blue Note Records, “My Life Matters,” with his always rewarding quintet, Pentad. The group features Dayna Stephens on saxophones and EWI (electronic wind instrument), Jalen Baker on vibraphone, Fabian Almazan on piano and keyboard, and Dezron Douglas on bass. The New York Times says, “Blake’s drumming is as bold as thunder and as subtle as the patter of rain.” The Guardian adds, “his command of time is quite unbelievable – tricky and playful but accurate to the millisecond.” His new My Life Matters is a suite of songs that serves as a dual treatise on the importance of family values and the social imperative to stand up in the face of injustice. 

Dayna Stephens – saxophones & EWI Jalen Baker – vibraphone Fabian Almazan – piano & keyboards Dezron Douglas – bass Johnathan Blake – drums “Blake is a drummer of volcanic power and deep soul, and Pentad is one of the most dynamic working bands in jazz today.” —NPR Music Drummer and composer Johnathan Blake—whose dynamic playing, artistic vision, and innate versatility led NPR to call him “the ultimate modernist” — celebrates the release of his new album on Blue Note Records, “My Life Matters,” with his always rewarding quintet, Pentad. The group features Dayna Stephens on saxophones and EWI (electronic wind instrument), Jalen Baker on vibraphone, Fabian Almazan on piano and keyboard, and Dezron Douglas on bass. The New York Times says, “Blake’s drumming is as bold as thunder and as subtle as the patter of rain.” The Guardian adds, “his command of time is quite unbelievable – tricky and playful but accurate to the millisecond.” His new My Life Matters is a suite of songs that serves as a dual treatise on the importance of family values and the social imperative to stand up in the face of injustice. 

Dayna Stephens – saxophones & EWI Jalen Baker – vibraphone Fabian Almazan – piano & keyboards Dezron Douglas – bass Johnathan Blake – drums “Blake is a drummer of volcanic power and deep soul, and Pentad is one of the most dynamic working bands in jazz today.” —NPR Music Drummer and composer Johnathan Blake—whose dynamic playing, artistic vision, and innate versatility led NPR to call him “the ultimate modernist” — celebrates the release of his new album on Blue Note Records, “My Life Matters,” with his always rewarding quintet, Pentad. The group features Dayna Stephens on saxophones and EWI (electronic wind instrument), Jalen Baker on vibraphone, Fabian Almazan on piano and keyboard, and Dezron Douglas on bass. The New York Times says, “Blake’s drumming is as bold as thunder and as subtle as the patter of rain.” The Guardian adds, “his command of time is quite unbelievable – tricky and playful but accurate to the millisecond.” His new My Life Matters is a suite of songs that serves as a dual treatise on the importance of family values and the social imperative to stand up in the face of injustice. 

Dayna Stephens – saxophones & EWI Jalen Baker – vibraphone Fabian Almazan – piano & keyboards Dezron Douglas – bass Johnathan Blake – drums “Blake is a drummer of volcanic power and deep soul, and Pentad is one of the most dynamic working bands in jazz today.” —NPR Music Drummer and composer Johnathan Blake—whose dynamic playing, artistic vision, and innate versatility led NPR to call him “the ultimate modernist” — celebrates the release of his new album on Blue Note Records, “My Life Matters,” with his always rewarding quintet, Pentad. The group features Dayna Stephens on saxophones and EWI (electronic wind instrument), Jalen Baker on vibraphone, Fabian Almazan on piano and keyboard, and Dezron Douglas on bass. The New York Times says, “Blake’s drumming is as bold as thunder and as subtle as the patter of rain.” The Guardian adds, “his command of time is quite unbelievable – tricky and playful but accurate to the millisecond.” His new My Life Matters is a suite of songs that serves as a dual treatise on the importance of family values and the social imperative to stand up in the face of injustice. 

Vincent Herring – alto saxophone Eric Alexander – tenor saxophone Mike LeDonne – piano John Webber – bass Lewis Nash – drums “Herring fuses instrumental mastery with equal and unified parts of jazz’s holy trinity of heart, mind, and soul.” – WNPR “Eric Alexander can play the tenor saxophone—never doubt that. He has the chops, power, and passion that make him one of the most blazingly bad-assed saxophonists of his generation.” – Downbeat Vincent Herring and Eric Alexander—two of the great saxophonists—on alto and tenor respectively, reunite to celebrate the release of their new co-led album Split Decision. It’s been 20 years since they first went head-to-headon record for 2005’s The Battle: Live at Smoke. Both were already acclaimed among the powerhouse reedmen of their generation, and they have only garnered more acclaim in the two decades since. All About Jazz reports, “For those who long for the time when hard bop reigned supreme... here's a sure cure for any lament that those days are lost and gone forever.” These two esteemed leaders will be joined, as they are on the recording, by an equally impressive rhythm section: Pianist Mike LeDonne, bassist John Webber, and drummer Lewis Nash. 

Vincent Herring – alto saxophone Eric Alexander – tenor saxophone Mike LeDonne – piano John Webber – bass Lewis Nash – drums “Herring fuses instrumental mastery with equal and unified parts of jazz’s holy trinity of heart, mind, and soul.” – WNPR “Eric Alexander can play the tenor saxophone—never doubt that. He has the chops, power, and passion that make him one of the most blazingly bad-assed saxophonists of his generation.” – Downbeat Vincent Herring and Eric Alexander—two of the great saxophonists—on alto and tenor respectively, reunite to celebrate the release of their new co-led album Split Decision. It’s been 20 years since they first went head-to-headon record for 2005’s The Battle: Live at Smoke. Both were already acclaimed among the powerhouse reedmen of their generation, and they have only garnered more acclaim in the two decades since. All About Jazz reports, “For those who long for the time when hard bop reigned supreme... here's a sure cure for any lament that those days are lost and gone forever.” These two esteemed leaders will be joined, as they are on the recording, by an equally impressive rhythm section: Pianist Mike LeDonne, bassist John Webber, and drummer Lewis Nash. 

Vincent Herring – alto saxophone Eric Alexander – tenor saxophone Mike LeDonne – piano John Webber – bass Lewis Nash – drums “Herring fuses instrumental mastery with equal and unified parts of jazz’s holy trinity of heart, mind, and soul.” – WNPR “Eric Alexander can play the tenor saxophone—never doubt that. He has the chops, power, and passion that make him one of the most blazingly bad-assed saxophonists of his generation.” – Downbeat Vincent Herring and Eric Alexander—two of the great saxophonists—on alto and tenor respectively, reunite to celebrate the release of their new co-led album Split Decision. It’s been 20 years since they first went head-to-headon record for 2005’s The Battle: Live at Smoke. Both were already acclaimed among the powerhouse reedmen of their generation, and they have only garnered more acclaim in the two decades since. All About Jazz reports, “For those who long for the time when hard bop reigned supreme... here's a sure cure for any lament that those days are lost and gone forever.” These two esteemed leaders will be joined, as they are on the recording, by an equally impressive rhythm section: Pianist Mike LeDonne, bassist John Webber, and drummer Lewis Nash. 

Vincent Herring – alto saxophone Eric Alexander – tenor saxophone Mike LeDonne – piano John Webber – bass Lewis Nash – drums “Herring fuses instrumental mastery with equal and unified parts of jazz’s holy trinity of heart, mind, and soul.” – WNPR “Eric Alexander can play the tenor saxophone—never doubt that. He has the chops, power, and passion that make him one of the most blazingly bad-assed saxophonists of his generation.” – Downbeat Vincent Herring and Eric Alexander—two of the great saxophonists—on alto and tenor respectively, reunite to celebrate the release of their new co-led album Split Decision. It’s been 20 years since they first went head-to-headon record for 2005’s The Battle: Live at Smoke. Both were already acclaimed among the powerhouse reedmen of their generation, and they have only garnered more acclaim in the two decades since. All About Jazz reports, “For those who long for the time when hard bop reigned supreme... here's a sure cure for any lament that those days are lost and gone forever.” These two esteemed leaders will be joined, as they are on the recording, by an equally impressive rhythm section: Pianist Mike LeDonne, bassist John Webber, and drummer Lewis Nash. 

Vincent Herring – alto saxophone Eric Alexander – tenor saxophone Mike LeDonne – piano John Webber – bass Lewis Nash – drums “Herring fuses instrumental mastery with equal and unified parts of jazz’s holy trinity of heart, mind, and soul.” – WNPR “Eric Alexander can play the tenor saxophone—never doubt that. He has the chops, power, and passion that make him one of the most blazingly bad-assed saxophonists of his generation.” – Downbeat Vincent Herring and Eric Alexander—two of the great saxophonists—on alto and tenor respectively, reunite to celebrate the release of their new co-led album Split Decision. It’s been 20 years since they first went head-to-headon record for 2005’s The Battle: Live at Smoke. Both were already acclaimed among the powerhouse reedmen of their generation, and they have only garnered more acclaim in the two decades since. All About Jazz reports, “For those who long for the time when hard bop reigned supreme... here's a sure cure for any lament that those days are lost and gone forever.” These two esteemed leaders will be joined, as they are on the recording, by an equally impressive rhythm section: Pianist Mike LeDonne, bassist John Webber, and drummer Lewis Nash. 

Tierney Sutton – vocals Houston Person – tenor saxophone Christian Jacob – piano Ricky Rodriguez – bass Lenny White – drums “Ms. Sutton is a pure jazz spirit who respects a song. Even when going out on an improvisatory limb, she never letsits essence slip away.” – The New York Times “Whatever imponderable talent it takes to stay at the top of one's game for almost six decades, as Person has, he still has it in abundance.” – All About Jazz Jazz vocalist Tierney Sutton joins forces with living legend tenor saxophonist Houston Person for an incredible musical dialogue that features a trio with very special guest drummer Lenny White, pianist Christian Jacob, and bassist Ricky Rodriguez. One of the most acclaimed of jazz vocalists, Sutton is renowned for her impeccable voice and imaginative treatments of standards, and she has received GRAMMY nominations for every project she has released in the last decade. The New York Times calls her “A serious jazz artist who takes the whole enterprise to another level.” And, JazzTimes says, “Houston Person does little things with each tune that reveal thought and planning, but the routines are fitting, not cute... And he is just as honest in his playing, which is free from phony effects and is never meretricious.” 

Tierney Sutton – vocals Houston Person – tenor saxophone Christian Jacob – piano Ricky Rodriguez – bass Lenny White – drums “Ms. Sutton is a pure jazz spirit who respects a song. Even when going out on an improvisatory limb, she never letsits essence slip away.” – The New York Times “Whatever imponderable talent it takes to stay at the top of one's game for almost six decades, as Person has, he still has it in abundance.” – All About Jazz Jazz vocalist Tierney Sutton joins forces with living legend tenor saxophonist Houston Person for an incredible musical dialogue that features a trio with very special guest drummer Lenny White, pianist Christian Jacob, and bassist Ricky Rodriguez. One of the most acclaimed of jazz vocalists, Sutton is renowned for her impeccable voice and imaginative treatments of standards, and she has received GRAMMY nominations for every project she has released in the last decade. The New York Times calls her “A serious jazz artist who takes the whole enterprise to another level.” And, JazzTimes says, “Houston Person does little things with each tune that reveal thought and planning, but the routines are fitting, not cute... And he is just as honest in his playing, which is free from phony effects and is never meretricious.” 

Tierney Sutton – vocals Houston Person – tenor saxophone Christian Jacob – piano Ricky Rodriguez – bass Lenny White – drums “Ms. Sutton is a pure jazz spirit who respects a song. Even when going out on an improvisatory limb, she never letsits essence slip away.” – The New York Times “Whatever imponderable talent it takes to stay at the top of one's game for almost six decades, as Person has, he still has it in abundance.” – All About Jazz Jazz vocalist Tierney Sutton joins forces with living legend tenor saxophonist Houston Person for an incredible musical dialogue that features a trio with very special guest drummer Lenny White, pianist Christian Jacob, and bassist Ricky Rodriguez. One of the most acclaimed of jazz vocalists, Sutton is renowned for her impeccable voice and imaginative treatments of standards, and she has received GRAMMY nominations for every project she has released in the last decade. The New York Times calls her “A serious jazz artist who takes the whole enterprise to another level.” And, JazzTimes says, “Houston Person does little things with each tune that reveal thought and planning, but the routines are fitting, not cute... And he is just as honest in his playing, which is free from phony effects and is never meretricious.” 

Tierney Sutton – vocals Houston Person – tenor saxophone Christian Jacob – piano Ricky Rodriguez – bass Lenny White – drums “Ms. Sutton is a pure jazz spirit who respects a song. Even when going out on an improvisatory limb, she never letsits essence slip away.” – The New York Times “Whatever imponderable talent it takes to stay at the top of one's game for almost six decades, as Person has, he still has it in abundance.” – All About Jazz Jazz vocalist Tierney Sutton joins forces with living legend tenor saxophonist Houston Person for an incredible musical dialogue that features a trio with very special guest drummer Lenny White, pianist Christian Jacob, and bassist Ricky Rodriguez. One of the most acclaimed of jazz vocalists, Sutton is renowned for her impeccable voice and imaginative treatments of standards, and she has received GRAMMY nominations for every project she has released in the last decade. The New York Times calls her “A serious jazz artist who takes the whole enterprise to another level.” And, JazzTimes says, “Houston Person does little things with each tune that reveal thought and planning, but the routines are fitting, not cute... And he is just as honest in his playing, which is free from phony effects and is never meretricious.” 

Tierney Sutton – vocals Houston Person – tenor saxophone Christian Jacob – piano Ricky Rodriguez – bass Lenny White – drums “Ms. Sutton is a pure jazz spirit who respects a song. Even when going out on an improvisatory limb, she never letsits essence slip away.” – The New York Times “Whatever imponderable talent it takes to stay at the top of one's game for almost six decades, as Person has, he still has it in abundance.” – All About Jazz Jazz vocalist Tierney Sutton joins forces with living legend tenor saxophonist Houston Person for an incredible musical dialogue that features a trio with very special guest drummer Lenny White, pianist Christian Jacob, and bassist Ricky Rodriguez. One of the most acclaimed of jazz vocalists, Sutton is renowned for her impeccable voice and imaginative treatments of standards, and she has received GRAMMY nominations for every project she has released in the last decade. The New York Times calls her “A serious jazz artist who takes the whole enterprise to another level.” And, JazzTimes says, “Houston Person does little things with each tune that reveal thought and planning, but the routines are fitting, not cute... And he is just as honest in his playing, which is free from phony effects and is never meretricious.” 

David Murray – tenor saxophone Marta Sánchez – piano Luke Stewart – bass Russell Carter – drums Featuring Ekep Nkwelle – vocals “Jazz legend David Murray is back with the next generation of geniuses." – The Washington Post Legendary tenor saxophonist David Murray makes a highly anticipated and exciting SMOKE Jazz Club debut to celebrate the release of his new album of all new compositions on Impulse! entitled Birdly Serenade. At the forefront of jazz for close to 50 years, Murray is joined by his newest quartet—one of the jazz world’s revelations of 2024—as he has re-emerged as a leading voice of the current state of the art. The group includes pianist Marta Sánchez, bassist Luke Stewart, and drummer Russell Carter, and will feature emerging vocal star Ekep Nkwelle. Murray has always pushed the music forward while honoring all that has come before it. The New York Times calls him “the master saxophonist who has reconciled the whole history of jazz tenor, from swing to free, during a wildly prolific career.” The Guardian adds, “His Sonny Rollins-like power, tone and unpredictability and the casualness over group participation that can make him seem (like Rollins) a prodigiously gifted enigma who's at his freest on his own.” 

David Murray – tenor saxophone Marta Sánchez – piano Luke Stewart – bass Russell Carter – drums Featuring Ekep Nkwelle – vocals “Jazz legend David Murray is back with the next generation of geniuses." – The Washington Post Legendary tenor saxophonist David Murray makes a highly anticipated and exciting SMOKE Jazz Club debut to celebrate the release of his new album of all new compositions on Impulse! entitled Birdly Serenade. At the forefront of jazz for close to 50 years, Murray is joined by his newest quartet—one of the jazz world’s revelations of 2024—as he has re-emerged as a leading voice of the current state of the art. The group includes pianist Marta Sánchez, bassist Luke Stewart, and drummer Russell Carter, and will feature emerging vocal star Ekep Nkwelle. Murray has always pushed the music forward while honoring all that has come before it. The New York Times calls him “the master saxophonist who has reconciled the whole history of jazz tenor, from swing to free, during a wildly prolific career.” The Guardian adds, “His Sonny Rollins-like power, tone and unpredictability and the casualness over group participation that can make him seem (like Rollins) a prodigiously gifted enigma who's at his freest on his own.” 

David Murray – tenor saxophone Marta Sánchez – piano Luke Stewart – bass Russell Carter – drums Featuring Ekep Nkwelle – vocals “Jazz legend David Murray is back with the next generation of geniuses." – The Washington Post Legendary tenor saxophonist David Murray makes a highly anticipated and exciting SMOKE Jazz Club debut to celebrate the release of his new album of all new compositions on Impulse! entitled Birdly Serenade. At the forefront of jazz for close to 50 years, Murray is joined by his newest quartet—one of the jazz world’s revelations of 2024—as he has re-emerged as a leading voice of the current state of the art. The group includes pianist Marta Sánchez, bassist Luke Stewart, and drummer Russell Carter, and will feature emerging vocal star Ekep Nkwelle. Murray has always pushed the music forward while honoring all that has come before it. The New York Times calls him “the master saxophonist who has reconciled the whole history of jazz tenor, from swing to free, during a wildly prolific career.” The Guardian adds, “His Sonny Rollins-like power, tone and unpredictability and the casualness over group participation that can make him seem (like Rollins) a prodigiously gifted enigma who's at his freest on his own.” 

David Murray – tenor saxophone Marta Sánchez – piano Luke Stewart – bass Russell Carter – drums Featuring Ekep Nkwelle – vocals “Jazz legend David Murray is back with the next generation of geniuses." – The Washington Post Legendary tenor saxophonist David Murray makes a highly anticipated and exciting SMOKE Jazz Club debut to celebrate the release of his new album of all new compositions on Impulse! entitled Birdly Serenade. At the forefront of jazz for close to 50 years, Murray is joined by his newest quartet—one of the jazz world’s revelations of 2024—as he has re-emerged as a leading voice of the current state of the art. The group includes pianist Marta Sánchez, bassist Luke Stewart, and drummer Russell Carter, and will feature emerging vocal star Ekep Nkwelle. Murray has always pushed the music forward while honoring all that has come before it. The New York Times calls him “the master saxophonist who has reconciled the whole history of jazz tenor, from swing to free, during a wildly prolific career.” The Guardian adds, “His Sonny Rollins-like power, tone and unpredictability and the casualness over group participation that can make him seem (like Rollins) a prodigiously gifted enigma who's at his freest on his own.” 

David Murray – tenor saxophone Marta Sánchez – piano Luke Stewart – bass Russell Carter – drums Featuring Ekep Nkwelle – vocals “Jazz legend David Murray is back with the next generation of geniuses." – The Washington Post Legendary tenor saxophonist David Murray makes a highly anticipated and exciting SMOKE Jazz Club debut to celebrate the release of his new album of all new compositions on Impulse! entitled Birdly Serenade. At the forefront of jazz for close to 50 years, Murray is joined by his newest quartet—one of the jazz world’s revelations of 2024—as he has re-emerged as a leading voice of the current state of the art. The group includes pianist Marta Sánchez, bassist Luke Stewart, and drummer Russell Carter, and will feature emerging vocal star Ekep Nkwelle. Murray has always pushed the music forward while honoring all that has come before it. The New York Times calls him “the master saxophonist who has reconciled the whole history of jazz tenor, from swing to free, during a wildly prolific career.” The Guardian adds, “His Sonny Rollins-like power, tone and unpredictability and the casualness over group participation that can make him seem (like Rollins) a prodigiously gifted enigma who's at his freest on his own.”