HotSpots March 14

Pioneers of Jazz: Celebrating Melba Liston |Tue, Mar 17, 10am | National Jazz Museum in Harlem |

Melba Liston remains one of the most important—and too often overlooked—architects of modern jazz. A brilliant trombonist, arranger, and composer, Liston shaped the sound of bands led by Randy Weston, Dizzy Gillespie, and others, bringing a rich orchestral imagination to jazz writing. This program at the National Jazz Museum in Harlem revisits her legacy, reminding audiences how profoundly her musical voice helped define the sound of the era. MORE INFO

Chris Dave : Atomic Habitz | Blue Note Jazz Club \ Mar 13–19 |
Chris Dave has spent the past decade redefining rhythm in contemporary music, moving effortlessly between hip-hop, gospel, jazz, and the unpredictable spaces in between. Atomic Habitz leans into that restless energy, with guitarist Marcus King and producer DJ Ginyard pushing the band toward a groove-driven improvisational edge. Expect a late-night laboratory where jazz meets the modern beat culture. MORE INFO

Tyreek McDole | Jazz Gallery | Mar 14 |
Rising vocalist Tyreek McDole has quickly become one of the most talked-about young voices on the scene. His sound carries the gravity of the great baritone stylists while maintaining the flexibility of a modern improviser. The Jazz Gallery—always a home for artists on the cusp—provides the perfect room for that kind of emergence. *Livestream Avail MORE INFO

Sunny Jain’s Wild Wild East | Joe’s Pub | Mar 19 |
Sunny Jain has long built bridges between jazz, punk energy, and the rhythms of the South Asian diaspora. Wild Wild East expands that language further, mixing dhol percussion, brass, and improvisation into a bold hybrid sound. It’s music that feels both global and deeply rooted in New York’s restless creative spirit. MORE INFO

Danilo Pérez & Godwin Louis with the JLCO | Jazz at Lincoln Center | Mar 13–14 |
Panamanian pianist Danilo Pérez has spent decades exploring the intersection of jazz with global musical traditions. In “African Routes,” he joins forces with saxophonist Godwin Louis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra to trace the rhythmic pathways linking Africa, the Caribbean, and the Americas. The result promises a sweeping musical conversation across continents. MORE INFO

Billy Hart Quartet | Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center | Mar 13–15 |

Drummer Billy Hart has been a quiet force in modern jazz for more than half a century, shaping the music from the bandstand alongside Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, and countless others. His quartet projects that same restless curiosity—rhythmic textures unfolding with patience, nuance, and deep listening. At Dizzy’s Club, with its panoramic view of the city, Hart’s music often feels like a masterclass in the art of collective improvisation. MORE INFO

Wayne Tucker & The Bad Motha’s (Mar 18) — Groove - Greenwich Village

Marquis Hill (Mar 17–19) — Village Vanguard — Greenwich Village

Kim Clarke Trio (Mar 14) — Beanrunner Café — Peekskill

Bettye LaVette (Mar 15) — The Vogel at Count Basie Center —Red Bank NJ

CHRIS DAVE × RICH MEDINA × SAVION GLOVER (MAR 20-22) Blue Note Jazz Club - Greenwich Village

Fred Hersch Trio | Smoke Jazz Club | Mar 13–15 |
Few pianists combine lyricism and harmonic depth the way Fred Hersch does. His trio has become a masterclass in listening—every phrase unfolding with patience, elegance, and quiet intensity. At Smoke’s intimate room, Hersch’s music often feels less like a concert and more like a shared meditation. MORE INFO

Walter Smith III TWIO | Village Vanguard | Mar 13–15 |
Walter Smith III’s tenor sound sits squarely in the modern lineage of the instrument—warm, searching, and harmonically adventurous. His TWIO project strips the format down to essentials, leaving space for long melodic lines and subtle rhythmic interplay. The Vanguard remains the proving ground where that kind of focused conversation thrives. MORE INFO

Camille Thurman with the Darrell Green Quartet | Jazz Forum Arts | Mar 14 |

Saxophonist and vocalist Camille Thurman has built a reputation as one of the most versatile artists of her generation, moving seamlessly between horn and voice while drawing deeply from the jazz tradition. Whether channeling the spirit of classic swing-era singers or stretching out on tenor sax, Thurman brings both power and elegance to the bandstand. Joined by drummer Darrell Green’s quartet, the performance promises a vibrant mix of soulful swing, modern phrasing, and fearless improvisation. MORE INFO

Marion Cowings | Jazz Club at Aman | Mar 17 |
Vocalist Marion Cowings carries the warmth and authority of a classic jazz storyteller. His phrasing recalls the elegance of the great mid-century stylists while remaining firmly rooted in today’s scene. In the refined setting of the Aman Jazz Club, that timeless sound feels perfectly at home. MORE INFO

A Tribute to Harold Mabern w/Eric Alexander & Cyrus Chestnut | Smoke Jazz Club | Mar 18–21 |

Few pianists carried the torch of hard bop with the warmth and authority of Harold Mabern. A Memphis native whose rhythmic drive and blues-soaked touch energized generations of musicians, Mabern left an indelible mark on the New York scene. Saxophonist Eric Alexander and pianist Cyrus Chestnut—both longtime collaborators and spiritual heirs to that tradition—revisit his music in a tribute that promises equal parts reverence, swing, and deep groove. MORE INFO

Joanne Brackeen | Jazz Forum Arts — | Mar 20 |

Pianist Joanne Brackeen has long stood among the most imaginative voices in modern jazz. Rising to prominence in the bands of Art Blakey and Joe Henderson, she developed a style that blends fearless improvisation with lyrical depth and spiritual intensity. At Jazz Forum Arts, Brackeen brings that singular approach to the keyboard—music that moves fluidly between tradition and exploration while remaining unmistakably her own. MORE INFO

“Manteniendo el Legado de El Conde” w/ – Cita Rodríguez & Pete Rodríguez | Pregones Theater | Mar 14 |
A tribute to salsa legend Pete “El Conde” Rodríguez, this performance connects generations of Latin music heritage. Led by family members Cita and Pete Rodríguez, the program celebrates a sound that shaped New York’s Afro-Caribbean musical identity. In the Bronx—where so much of that story unfolded—the legacy feels especially alive. MORE INFO

Craig Harris & Harlem Nightsongs Big Band | Harlem Jazz Boxx Harlem Jazz Series @ Mount Morris Ascension Church (Mar 20)
Trombonist Craig Harris has long used music as a platform for storytelling, weaving history and social memory into large-ensemble jazz. Harlem Nightsongs draws directly from the poetry, struggles, and celebrations that shaped the neighborhood’s cultural life. It’s big band music with a conscience. MORE INFO

Women’s Jazz Fest : Lisa Fischer | Schomburg Center | Mar 16
Lisa Fischer’s voice has carried through decades of music history—from the Rolling Stones’ stage to deeply soulful solo work. At the Schomburg Center’s Women’s Jazz Fest, she brings that extraordinary range into a setting devoted to cultural memory and artistic lineage. Fischer doesn’t simply sing songs—she inhabits them. MORE INFO

Move & Groove: Live Jazz & Yoga (Mar 14, 10am) — National Jazz Museum in Harlem — Harlem

Sharp Radway (Mar 14) — Sista’s Place — Brooklyn

Anat Cohen Quartet (Mar 14) — Birdland — Midtown Manhattan

Anderson Brothers & Friends (Mar 14) — Birdland — Midtown Manhattan

Billy Hart Quartet (Mar 14–15) — Dizzy’s Club NYC

Vanisha Gould (Mar 16) — Dizzy’s Club NYC

Jackie Ribas (Mar 14) — Fasano Baretto —Midtown East

Sinatra Saturdays Show (Mar 14) — Carnegie Club —Midtown

Louise Rogers (Mar 18) — Pangea — East Village

Brian Charette Trio (Mar 15) — Cellar Dog —Greenwich Village

Jazz Vespers @ Saint Peter’s Church : Ron Jackson | Mar 15 |

Guitarist Ron Jackson brings his warm tone and elegant phrasing to Saint Peter’s long-running Jazz Vespers series, where music and reflection meet in a uniquely intimate setting. Known for his mastery of both six- and seven-string guitar, Jackson moves easily between blues, swing, and modern harmony. In the quiet acoustics of the sanctuary, his music unfolds with a calm, contemplative grace. MORE INFO

Victor and the Vipers – Live Music & Burlesque (Mar 19) — Adelaide’s Salon — Chelsea

Ethan Lipton & His Orchestra (Mar 18) — Joe’s Pub — NoHo

Louise Rogers — Pangea (Mar 18)

Flamenco Festival New York — Citywide (through Mar 15)
Each year the Flamenco Festival brings some of Spain’s most dynamic dancers, singers, and guitarists to New York stages. The performances reveal the deep rhythmic kinship between flamenco and jazz improvisation—two traditions built on pulse, expression, and fearless dialogue. For a few weeks each spring, the city moves to a distinctly Andalusian beat. Hot House lists a few places to consider. MORE INFO

100th Birthday Celebration for Nobuko “Cobi” Narita | Tue, Mar 17, 5pm | Saint Peter’s Church

For decades, Nobuko “Cobi” Narita was one of the quiet pillars of New York’s jazz community, offering musicians a welcoming stage and devoted advocacy through the Jazz Center of New York. This centennial celebration honors the remarkable life of a woman who helped nurture generations of artists. Fittingly held at Saint Peter’s—often called the “Jazz Church”—the event reflects the spirit of community Narita championed throughout her life. MORE INFO

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