Makoto Ozone plays piano with the technique of a concert soloist and the timing of a jazz musician, and this Birdland run is built as a memorial for bassist Kiyoshi Kitagawa. Yasushi Nakamura and Clarence Penn fill out a trio that can swing hard or drop to near silence within a chorus. If you want a piano trio playing with something personal at stake, take one of the four sets.
What to expect
Birdland's wide stage suits a trio well, and the earlier set is the busier of the two. Expect long-form playing, spoken introductions about Kitagawa and his place in the New York scene, and a room that stays quiet while the music is on. Table service continues through the set without interrupting it.
Good to know
- Take the A, C, E to 42nd St-Port Authority; the club is on West 44th Street
- The later set is usually easier to get into without booking far ahead
- Best for piano-trio listeners rather than people looking for a party
- Pairs well with a pre-show dinner on Ninth Avenue
- Street-level entry with accessible seating available on request
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Common questions
Who was Kiyoshi Kitagawa?
A Japanese-born bassist long based in New York, remembered in this Birdland run by Ozone's trio.
How many chances are there to see it?
Four sets across two nights, at 8:30pm and 10:30pm each evening.
More this weekend
