This is a saxophone trio with no chordal instrument, which means every harmonic decision falls to Patitucci's bass and you can hear all of it in a room that holds about 130 people. Patitucci and Blade spent years together in Wayne Shorter's quartet, and that telepathy is the whole point of the format. If you want to understand why musicians talk about the Vanguard the way they do, a trio this exposed in that room is the way in.
What to expect
A steep staircase down into a red-walled triangular basement where the stage is barely raised and the back wall is covered in photographs of everyone who has recorded here. Seating is assigned when you arrive rather than reserved by seat, so early arrivals get the tables near the piano. The room falls genuinely silent during sets.
Good to know
- Take the 1 to Christopher Street-Sheridan Square or the A/C/E/B/D/F/M to West 4th Street.
- The club is down a narrow staircase with no lift, which is worth knowing if stairs are difficult.
- There is no food service and the room is small, so arrive early if you want a table rather than a bench seat.
- Talking during sets is genuinely not tolerated here; this is a listening room first.
- Cash is still handy at the door and bar, though cards are accepted.
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Common questions
Who is in the trio?
John Patitucci on bass, Chris Potter on saxophones and Brian Blade on drums, the same lineup as Patitucci's Spirit Fall album.
How long is the engagement?
Six nights running September 1 through 6, so this weekend catches the final three.
How big is the room?
The Vanguard is a basement club seating roughly 130, with the stage only a step above the floor.
More this weekend
