SMOKE Jazz Club, New York City Announces March 2025 Line-Up.

Thursday, January 30, 2025

SMOKE Jazz Club has announced its schedule for March 2025. Performers include Terri Lyne Carrington, Fred Hersch, Charles McPherson, Amina Figarova, Jeremy Pelt.

We have received the following press release;

Smoke Jazz Club Announces March Line-Up featuring Terri Lyne Carrington, Fred Hersch, and More

Announcing SMOKE Jazz Club’s March Line-Up with Terri Lyne Carrington’s We Insist! 2025 Tribute to Max Roach, Fred Hersch Solo Piano, Charles McPherson, Jeremy Pelt and More

Terri Lyne Carrington “We Insist! 2025” (Mar 5-9)
Fred Hersch Solo Piano + (Mar 12-16)
Charles McPherson Quintet (Mar 19-23)
Amina Figarova Sextet (Mar 26)
Jeremy Pelt Quintet (Mar 27-30)

Hailed as the “#1 Jazz Club in New York City (SecretNYC),” SMOKE Jazz Club presents legendary artists and today’s leading female musicians in March. The month kickstarts with the NEA Jazz Master Terri Lyne Carrington paying tribute to Max Roach’s Centennial with the debut of her “We Insist! 2025” ensemble complete with live dancing on the SMOKE stage (Mar 5-9). Making his highly anticipated SMOKE debut is pianist Fred Hersch performing three nights solo (Mar 12, 13 + 16) and two nights of duos with special guest tenor saxophonists Donny McCaslin (Mar 14) and Miguel Zenón (Mar 15). Alto saxophonist and bebop legend Charles McPherson returns with his Quintet for five nights (Mar 19-23) followed by one of today’s leading trumpet voices of his generation – Jeremy Pelt at the helm of his Quintet (Mar 27-30). For the complete and most updated March schedule, please visit http://www.smokejazz.com.

March 2025 Concert Schedule (subject to change):

Wed-Sun March 5-9: Terri Lyne Carrington’s “We Insist! 2025”  SMOKE debut
April May Webb – vocals
Christiana Hunte – dancer
Milena Casado – trumpet
Morgan Guerin – saxophones
Simon Moullier – vibraphone
Terri Lyne Carrington – drums
“Carrington [has] phenomenal expertise and versatility as a drummer and composer, as well as [the] ability to lead and accentuate the talent she surrounds herself with” – NPR
Marking her first time on the SMOKE stage, NEA Jazz Master Terri Lyne Carrington celebrates the legendary Max Roach in his centennial year by performing his “Freedom Now Suite.” One of the seminal works of jazz as protest, “We Insist! Max Roach’s Freedom Now Suite,” was first released in 1961 by Roach in collaboration with Abbey Lincoln and lyricist Oscar Brown, Jr. Invoking both the historic pains and hopeful potentiality of the Black experience, Roach created a striking avant-garde, vocal-instrumental suite commemorating the centennial of the Emancipation Proclamation and which acted as an urgent call for freedom during the civil rights era, which remains poignant as ever today.
Grammy-Award winning Carrington pays homage to Roach and Lincoln’s legacy with an exciting group of emerging artists, including multi-instrumentalist Morgan Guerin, trumpeter Milena Casado, vibraphonist Simon Moullier, vocalist April May Webb (fresh off her win of the 2024 Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Competition) filling the role of Abbey Lincoln, and dancer Christiana Hunte. Together, they impart the still poignant social justice message of the “Freedom Now Suite” respecting its jazz tradition while allowing the influences of other Black musical traditions, including gospel, R&B, and indigenous Afro-diasporic rhythms, with the resounding spirit and urgency that rings true on the original album.

Wed-Sun March 12-16: Fred Hersch Solo Piano + SMOKE debut
Fred Hersch – piano
Donny McCaslin – tenor saxophone (Fri only)
Miguel Zenon – tenor saxophone (Sat only)
“A master who plays it his way.” – The New York Times
Pianist Fred Hersch makes his highly anticipated debut at SMOKE, performing solo piano and welcoming two very special guests: tenor saxophonist Donny McCaslin on Friday and alto saxophonist Miguel Zenón on Saturday. A defining figure in jazz for over three decades, Hersch is renowned as an improviser, composer, educator, bandleader, collaborator, and recording artist. Vanity Fair calls him “the most arrestingly innovative pianist in jazz,” while The New Yorker hails him as “a living legend.” A 17-time GRAMMY nominee, Hersch has received some of the most prestigious honours in jazz.
A deeply responsive and intuitive collaborator, Hersch has shared the stage with a remarkable array of celebrated artists, including Anat Cohen, Bill Frisell, Gilad Hekselman, Julian Lage, Chris Potter, Joe Lovano, Avishai Cohen, Enrico Rava, Kurt Elling, Esperanza Spalding, Kate McGarry, Audra McDonald, Cécile McLorin Salvant, and Renée Fleming. At SMOKE, he continues this tradition with two exceptional duos—first with Donny McCaslin and then with Miguel Zenón. An acclaimed solo pianist, Hersch has 12 solo albums in his catalog. All About Jazz states, “When it comes to the art of solo piano in jazz, there are two classes of performers: Fred Hersch and everybody else,” while JazzTimes writes, “Solo Hersch is a complete, self-sufficient, uniquely pure art form.” Hersch will be performing on a Steinway Concert D piano.

Wed-Sun March 19-23: Charles McPherson Quintet
Charles McPherson – alto saxophone
Yotam Silberstein – guitar
Jeb Patton – piano
Dezron Douglas – bass
Billy Drummond – drums
“No jazz musician of the past 60 years has more palpably channeled the sound of Charlie Parker than alto saxophonist Charles McPherson.” – Jazziz
Alto saxophonist and bebop legend Charles McPherson leads an exciting quintet featuring guitarist Yotam Silberstein, pianist Jeb Patton, bassist Dezron Douglas, and drummer Billy Drummond. One of the most acclaimed and beloved voices in jazz, McPherson’s rich musical style is rooted in the blues and bebop and has influenced and inspired generations of musicians and listeners for over six decades. He has performed at concerts and festivals around the world with jazz greats like Barry Harris, Billy Eckstine, Nat Adderley, Jay McShann, Phil Woods, Wynton Marsalis, James Moody, Dizzy Gillespie, and others. In a recent review, Downbeat states, “As a still-vibrant jazz veteran with ties to innovators like Charles Mingus and Lionel Hampton, McPherson’s writing carries on the traditional weight of bebop and swing, buoyed with an inventive, contemporary spark.”

Wed March 26: Amina Figarova Sextet
Freddie Hendrix – trumpet
Wayne Escoffery – tenor saxophone
Bart Platteau – flutes
Amina Figarova – piano
Philip Norris – bass
Rudy Royston – drums
“In today’s jazz world, many musicians feel compelled to write their own material—even when it’s not their strength. Amina Figarova, however, is a different story. Her records are eagerly awaited for their unique, inspired compositions by a true magician of arrangement.” – JazzTimes
Amina Figarova, the extraordinary Azerbaijan-born, New York-based pianist and composer, leads her acclaimed sextet featuring trumpeter Freddie Hendrix, saxophonist Wayne Escoffery, bassist Philip Norris, drummer Rudy Royston, and her principal collaborator and husband, flutist Bart Platteau. Over nearly 25 years of touring and performing, Figarova has forged a tight-knit ensemble that speaks with a singular, inimitable voice—one that is entirely driven by original compositions.
As The Jazz Police puts it, “This is a band that earned its reputation playing all-original material, with each musician a formidable soloist in their own right. But it’s the signature interplay between them that elevates the Amina Figarova Sextet above most large chamber ensembles in modern jazz, positioning Figarova among the top echelon of composer/bandleaders.” Her latest recording, Suite for Africa (2024), continues to showcase her distinctive vision. Featuring powerful performances by the sextet alongside the 24-voice, Liberia-based Matsiko World Orphan Choir, the album has received glowing praise. All About Jazz raves, “The joy, innocence, youthful exuberance, and zest for life are all palpable, radiating even amidst challenging life circumstances. Paired with the sextet’s adventurous playing, the result is a joyful and spellbinding listening experience.”

Thu-Sun March 27-30: Jeremy Pelt Quintet
Jeremy Pelt – trumpet
Jalen Baker – vibraphone
Misha Mendelenko – guitar
Leighton McKinley Harrell – bass
Jared Spears – drums
“Pelt is a technical marvel. He executes intricate solos with ease, plays gorgeous ballads in a tasteful manner, and never lacks flair or sensitivity.” – JazzTimes
Trumpeter Jeremy Pelt leads a remarkable quintet—featuring vibraphonist Jalen Baker, guitarist Misha Mendelenko, bassist Leighton McKinley Harrell, and drummer Jared Spears—in celebration of his most recent recording Woven (HighNote Records). One of the leading trumpet voices of his generation, Pelt’s approach and style place him firmly in the tradition of jazz giants like Lee Morgan and Freddie Hubbard, while pushing the boundaries of modern jazz.
Woven is a captivating exploration that blends the rich textures of 21st-century jazz with the dynamic possibilities of electronic synthesized sound. This collection of mostly original compositions highlights Pelt’s masterful artistry as both an instrumentalist and a composer, committed to expanding the sonic landscape of jazz. Burning Ambulance aptly describes Pelt as “on an extended journey, capturing snapshots along the way,” urging jazz fans to join him on this musical adventure.

About SMOKE
Located on Manhattan’s Upper West Side at the junction of Broadway and 106th Street (aka Duke Ellington Boulevard), Smoke Jazz Club is one of New York City’s premier live music venues. Renowned for offering top-notch programming of accessible, timeless jazz featuring legendary performers, modern masters, and rising stars, Smoke stands apart with its candlelit dining room, stellar acoustics, and classic American cuisine. Founded in 1999, SMOKE also boasts a GRAMMY-nominated label, Smoke Sessions Records, and a celebrated streaming concert series, Smoke Screens. For everything else, visit http://www.smokejazz.com.

Ticketing + Information:                                                                                 
When: Wednesday-Sunday @ 7:00 p.m. + 9:00 p.m. and additional 10:30 p.m. (Fri & Sat only).
Doors open at 5:00 p.m. (unless otherwise noted).
Where: SMOKE Jazz Club, 2751 Broadway (between 105/106th Streets), New York, NY, Train: 1 to 103rd Street.
Tickets: In-Person $35+. Livestream $15 (Fri only). For more information and to make reservations, please visit http://www.smokejazz.com.