Smoke Jazz Livestream's Upcoming Shows

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Eddie Henderson – trumpet

David Weiss – trumpet

Donald Harrison – alto saxophone

Azar Lawrence – tenor saxophone

George Cables – piano

Cecil McBee – bass

Billy Hart – drums

“Player for player, there’s no better working band in jazz than The Cookers.” - The Boston Globe

The Cookers are a powerhouse, collaborative septet uniting some of the most revered jazz masters of the past six decades. Legendary figures like Eddie Henderson, Azar Lawrence, Cecil McBee, George Cables, and Billy Hart channel the bold, exploratory spirit of the 1960s—a transformative era they helped shape through their groundbreaking work with some of jazz’s most influential ensembles. Since then, each has emerged as a leading voice in their own right. David Weiss and Donald Harrison are the youngest members of the group, but they share many of the same formative experiences, having worked most notably with Art Blakey, Bobby Hutcherson, Freddie Hubbard, Charles Tolliver, Roy Haynes, and Herbie Hancock.

The band’s repertoire spans iconic jazz anthems and rare gems from their incredible catalogs. The Los Angeles Times notes, “This hard-hitting septet wears its name like a mission statement. Rich with a mix of classic elegance and exploration, the group might reference the past by name, but it never sounds less than current.” The New York Times calls them “a dream team of forward-leaning hard bop.”

*Livestreams are Available for 48 Hours in Every Time Zone

Michael Rodriguez – trumpet

Billy Childs – piano

Matt Penman – bass

Ari Hoenig – drums

“One of the most critically acclaimed pianists in modern jazz” – All About Jazz

Renowned pianist and composer Billy Childs and his trio with bassist Matt Penman and drummer Ari Hoenig feature special guest trumpeter Michael Rodriguez.

A native of Los Angeles, Childs grew up immersed in jazz, classical, and popular music influences, which he blends in a powerful and personal compositional and performing voice. A child prodigy who started performing at age six and studying at USC at 16, he was “discovered” by trumpet legend Freddie Hubbard, with whom he embarked on a successful performing and recording tour.

He also recorded and performed with a number of other influential jazz musicians, including J.J. Johnson, Joe Henderson, Wynton Marsalis, Jack DeJohnette, and Dave Holland, among many others, and with such varied artists as Yo-Yo Ma, Sting, Renee Fleming, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Kronos Quartet.

Downbeat reports, “The same creative spirit that’s propelled him from the bands of bop giants as a twenty-something side-player to a composer renowned throughout concert halls and across jazz festival stages remains unhampered.” The Los Angeles Times adds, “As a pianist, he possesses the improvisatory skills and powerful sense of swing one associates with world-class artists… Childs is an inventive composer and arranger whose effort in those areas consistently expand the dimensions of the jazz genre - and beyond.”

*Livestreams are Available for 48 Hours in Every Time Zone

Charles McPherson – alto saxophone

Terell Stafford – trumpet

Jeb Patton – piano

David Wong – 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 his hard-swinging quintet featuring trumpeter Terell Stafford with pianist Jeb Patton, bassist David Wong, 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.” Paris Move writes of his recent acclaimed album, Reverence: “If you love jazz, this album is already a legend.”

*Livestreams are Available for 48 Hours in Every Time Zone

Wayne Escoffery – tenor saxophone

Jimmy Greene – tenor saxophone

David Kikoski – piano

Buster Williams – bass

Lenny White – drums

“[Escoffery’s] sound is arguably a contemporary mix of Coltrane, Shorter, and Henderson influences, but is already personal. His technique is superb.” – Jazzwise

“Jimmy is phenomenal. He has a really creative imagination and beautiful feeling. His tone is big and warm and beautiful.” – Tom Harrell

Tenor saxophonists Wayne Escoffery and Jimmy Greene lead an extraordinary quintet featuring pianist David Kikoski, bassist Buster Williams and drummer Lenny White.

Two powerful and distinctive voices in modern jazz, Escoffery and Greene share a deep musical connection dating back to their studies with the great Jackie McLean. Both have developed singular voices of their own while carrying forward the tradition of passionate, hard-swinging tenor playing. Escoffery has performed and recorded with artists including Tom Harrell, Mingus Big Band, Eric Reed, and Herbie Hancock, while Greene has worked with Ron Carter, Horace Silver, Freddie Hubbard, Tom Harrell, Kenny Barron, and many others.