About
Drummer Makaya McCraven's tet — Joel Ross, Junius Paul, Immanuel Wilkins — closes out a week on the Village Vanguard's corner bandstand.
McCraven builds records by cutting live sessions into loops, so hearing the source material happen in real time in a 120-seat basement is the whole point — the band stretches, he chops the groove live, and nothing sounds like the album. The lineup is a who's-who of the current generation: Joel Ross on vibes, Junius Paul on bass, and Immanuel Wilkins joining on the final night. If you have never done the Vanguard, a modern band in the room where Coltrane cut live albums is the right way to start.
What to expect
A cramped, wedge-shaped basement with the band at floor level and no bad seat, run on a strict two-set schedule with a hard reset between sets. There is no food, the drinks are simple, and talking during the music is genuinely frowned upon. Expect a listening-room crowd that applauds solos and nothing else.
Good to know
- Take the 1/2/3 to 14th Street or the A/C/E to 14th Street and walk down Seventh Avenue South
- Reserve ahead — the room is tiny and marquee runs sell out
- Seating is assigned by arrival order within your reservation, so get there early for the front
- There is a drink minimum on top of the ticket
- The club is a basement with stairs and no elevator
- Phones down and conversation off during sets — the Vanguard enforces it
Common questions
Who is in the band?
Makaya McCraven leads on drums with Junius Paul on bass and a rotating cast including Marquis Hill, Jeff Parker, Joel Ross, Emmanuel Michael and Immanuel Wilkins across the run.
How long is a set?
Vanguard sets typically run around 75 minutes, and the club clears the room between the early and late show.
Can I just walk up?
You can try, but the room holds barely over a hundred people and high-profile runs usually sell out in advance.