Ensemble Newsletter · January 26, 2026
This Week in NYC: Louis Hayes, NY Phil, and Smalls Jam Session
Three concerts worth showing up for this week—from a legendary jazz drummer to the NY Phil's powerful pairing of Strauss and Beethoven.
Louis Hayes — Dizzy's Club
Louis Hayes returns with his hard-swinging quintet, bringing decades of clarity and drive honed alongside the likes of Horace Silver, Cannonball Adderley, Oscar Peterson, and McCoy Tyner. His recent album Artform Revisited shows a master still performing at the highest level. This is essential listening from one of modern jazz's most respected drummers.
Event details →Manfred Honeck, María Dueñas — David Geffen Hall
Manfred Honeck conducts the New York Philharmonic in a bold pairing: Beethoven's towering Violin Concerto featuring soloist María Dueñas, followed by Honeck's own orchestration of Strauss's Elektra Suite. Honeck's interpretations consistently reveal fresh insights in canonical works, promising to be one of those evenings where you leave hearing something familiar as if for the first time.
Event details →Ryo Sasaki — Smalls Jazz Club
Hosted by pianist Ryo Sasaki, this afternoon jam session (2:00-5:15 PM) is where the city's jazz scene shows up to play. No set list, no rehearsal: just musicians responding to each other in real time. It's the opposite of a polished performance, and that's exactly the point.
Event details →