by alex terrier
Earlier this week I went to one of my favorite joints in the city, the 55 Bar. I didn’t know who was booked but with no surprise I heard a great band with some fine musicians. The 55 Bar is located at 55 Christopher St in Greenwich Village, crossing with 7th ave. I realize as I am writing, that we are talking about a 90 year old neighborhood bar. Yes, a prohibition era dive bar that opened in 1919, added jazz in 1983 and has become a prominent club for young lions as well as established musicians. Go there any day of the week and their schedule will almost never fail to present some of the best Jazz in NYC. Some creative, modern Jazz that will please your senses as well as your intellect. Saxophonist David Binney, who is to my mind one of the most creative jazz musicians on the current scene, can be heard there several times a month. Jazz superstars such as saxophonist Chris Potter, guitarist Wayne Krantz and saxophonist Dave Liebman are scheduled along with some young up and coming artists such as guitarist Akira Ishiguro, saxophonist Sean Nowell…
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During my visit to 55, I happened upon the Sean Smith Quartet. I didn’t know bassist Sean Smith and it was a really pleasant surprise to discover his music. I arrived a bit before 7pm for the early show. As soon as you climb down the stairs and step in, you feel at ease in this warm, simple environment that emanetes history . Thanks to the Christmas lights, up and running all year long, one can contemplate a collection of Jazz Lps pinned up on the walls. I sat at the bar, a long wood bar with the marks of an old era when one could listen, drink and smoke at the same time.
As I said, I had no idea who was playing, I didn’t even check their names, so I didn’t know what to expect. When they started the first tune, the swinging Tropical Depression, I got immediately caught by the saxophonist. With a full and warm tenor sound, John Ellis improvised with a very subtle and lyrical sense of the melody, and at the same time rhythmically complex but yet very organic. He was not showing off his chops for the sake of it, but really told a story with each of his solos. Sean Smith proved right away to be a very solid and swinging bassist. He is also a fine composer as I could hear him along the night presenting a rich variety of pieces. The untitled second piece was a straight eights song with a nice groovy feel and well-constructed motivic melody. So far, drummer Russell Meissner proved to be a good match to lock with Sean Smith. But the third piece, a burning up-tempo, gave him the opportunity to demonstrate how inventive a soloist he can be. John Ellis also used this piece to unleash his impeccable technique. The fourth piece was the least convincing of the set. A ballad that was a bit too predictable to my taste. But the closing song, Enigma, was by far the most interesting number. A long introduction played by the bass and guitar, followed by a drum solo leading to a medium-up waltz that gave guitarist John Hart the chance to offer his most convincing solo of the night.
Check out Sean Smith, John Ellis, Russel Meissner, the 55 Bar
While there is no cover for the early shows (7-9pm), a cover of $10 to $15 is applied to the late shows.
