Jesse Davis Quintet - Live At Smalls (2012)

Fabulous, as are all of Jesse's...
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Small's is an incredible club here in NYC. I got hip to Jesse a few years back, and had no idea he was once a regular part of the NYC scene. When I heard he was at Small's, I made it down for this show and recording session. I was also interested in hearing Ryan Kisor on trumpet, who I know is great, but had never seen him live. I know Spike Wilner, pianist and owner of Small's from my many visits to his place. I am finding Small's recordings to be consistently rewarding. This place is keeping alive great jazz. On this one you have top guys playing straight ahead jazz, and they are really good at it. Jesse is almost criminally unknown, but that's the nature of jazz, I guess. He was also lovely and friendly when I approached him. The warmth comes through in his playing. Get this and get the others too. Highly recommended! ~ KnightinTunisia, Amazon.com. 

SmallsLive, SL0026, 2012
Recorded 13th-15th December, 2011 at Live at Smalls Jazz Club, Greenwich Village, NYC 

Musicians:
Jesse Davis - Alto Saxophone
Ryan Kisor - Trumpet
Spike Wilner - Piano
Peter Washington - Bass
Billy Drummond - Drums 

Tracks:
1. I'll Close My Eyes {Billy Reid, Buddy Kaye} (19:50)
2. Piece Of The Apple {Jesse Davis} (18:50)
3. Body & Soul {Edward Heyman, Johnny Green} (10:57)
4. Pray Thee / Beyond The Storm {Jesse Davis} (12:58)
5. Journey From The Lighthouse {Jesse Davis} (12:39) 

Total Time: 75:15 

Credits:
Executive Producer, Producer - Spike Wilner
Producer, Mixing - Ben Rubin
Engineer - Tyler Mcdiarmid
Mastering - Gene Paul, Jamie Polaski
Cover Design, Photos - Michelle Watt 

I'll Close My Eyes

Ari Hoenig Punkbop - Live At Smalls (2010)

This is a killer high octane live set by drummer Ari Hoenig with his Punk Bop Band which features some of the most talented in demand players in NYC. On guitar Jonathan Kreisberg who's playing is not to be missed here. He goes from Pat Martino inspired tones to wet fx drenched Pat Metheny like sounds on his Gibson 175. On alto sax Will Vinson of the U.K. On bass is Danton Boller who anchored Roy Hargrove's fabulous 2008 album "Ear Food", Danton really lays it down here on upright bass. The music is a unique fusion of styles but it's less like 70s "fusion" and more just what modern jazz is becoming as time passes and the stylistic boundaries blur. Pick this up if you're a fan of Ari Hoenig and if you're looking for some new music to digest, I promise you'll find something to like here. Not recommended for anyone that thinks all Jazz after the 50s was crap. ~ Jonathan Guarriello, User@AllMusic.com. 

SmallsLIVE, SL-0013, 2010
Recorded 8th February, 2010 Live at Smalls Jazz Club, Greenwich Village, NYC 

Musicians:
Ari Hoenig - Drums, Arranger
Will Vinson - Alto Saxophone
Tigran Hamasyan - Piano
Jonathan Kreisberg - Guitar
Danton Boller - Bass 

Tracks:
1. Birdless (12:29)
2. Remembering (10:03)
3. Rapscallion Cattle (12:34)
4. Green Spleen (15:22)
5. Dark News (9:51)
6. Ska (12:53) 

All Compositions by Ari Hoenig 

Total Time: 73:15 

Credits:
Producer, Executive-Producer - Spike Wilner
Producer, Mixing - Ben Rubin
Engineer - Jimmy Katz
Mastering - Gene Paul, Jamie Polaski
Photography, Design - Michelle Watt 

Green Spleen

Will Vinson - Live At Smalls (2013)

London born alto saxophonist Will Vinson has been making a name for himself in New York as an exploring, cutting edge musician. Noted for his work in Ari Hoenig's group Punkbop, Vinson has been defining his sound and his own working group. With guitarist Lage Lund (also a SmallsLIVE artist) and rising piano star Aaron Parks, Marcus Gilmore on drums and Matt Brewer on bass, this is a serious set of music that includes some shimmering originals. ~ Amazon.com. 

SmallsLIVE, SL-0035, 2013
Recorded 4th-5th December, 2012 at Small Jazz Club, Greenwich Village, New York 

Musicians:
Will Vinson - Alto Saxophone
Aaron Parks - Piano
Lage Lund - Guitar
Matt Brewer - Bass
Marcus Gilmore - Drums 

Tracks:
1. The Clock Killer {Will Vinson} (10:19)
2. Star Of Greece {Will Vinson} (7:47)
3. Swagger {Lage Lund} (11:58)
4. Stablemates {Benny Golson} (9:42)
5. Squeeze {Will Vinson} (7:14)
6. Morning Glory {Duke Ellington} (6:04)
7. Albemarle {Will Vinson} (10:39) 

Total Time: 63:48 

Credits:
Executive Producer, Producer - Spike Wilner
Producer, Mixing - Ben Rubin [House of Cha Cha]
Engineer - Jimmy Katz
Mastering - Gene Paul [G&J Audio]
Design, Photography - Michelle Watt 

Stablemates

Alex Sipiagin - Live At Smalls (2013)

Wonderful Live Date

Alex Sipiagin was recently voted a "rising star" in the Down Beat Critic's poll, and this terrific recording will only boost his growing reputation. It's a blistering live date with Seamus Blake on tenor sax, David Kikoski on piano, Boris Kozlov on bass, and Nate Smith on drums. Sipiagin has recorded about 15 albums as a leader and another 25 or so as a sideman, many of which are with members of this band, and this is one of my favorites. The band is tight and the energy is high throughout the set. In terms of style, Sipiagin sounds a bit like the late great trumpeter Woody Shaw -- very fluent post-bop that is rich with ideas. Unfortunately, the recording is on the pricey side, but the quality of the music is terrific. Recommended. ~ by Kerron, Amazon.com.

SmallsLIVE Records, SL0033, 2013

Recorded 25^th-26^th June, 2012 At Smalls Jazz Club, Greenwich Village, NYC

Musicians:

Alex Sipiagin - Trumpet

Seamus Blake - Tenor Saxophone

David Kikoski - Piano

Boris Kozlov - Bass

Nate Smith - Drums

Tracks:

1. Live Score {Alex Sipiagin} (13:53)

2. Videlles {Alex Sipiagin} (15:01)

3. Calming {Alex Sipiagin} (10:49)

4. Pass {Alex Sipiagin} (19:34)

5. Returning {Alex Sipiagin} (13:50)

Total Time: 73:07

Credits:

Producer, Executive Producer - Spike Wilner

Producer, Mixing Engineer - Ben Rubin

Recording Engineer - Tyler McDiarmid

Mastering Engineer - Gene Paul (G&J Audio)

Photography, Design - Michelle Watt

Notes:

Where possible applause has been trimmed or edited out.

Mixed at The House of Cha Cha

Mastered At G&J Audio

Blistering Trumpet Skills, Deeply Interactive Band

A fantastically energized live album showcasing both Sipiagin's burning skills as a trumpet player but also the deep synergistic interactions between the band and all soloists. Nate Smith's highly interactive approach on drums is particularly captivating. 5 stars. THIS is a prime example of what modern jazz sounds like. ~ by Brownmanon, Amazon.com.