Patrick Wolff All-Star Quartet ft. Peter Zak

Saxophonist Patrick Wolff brings his lyrical, lineage-embracing approach to jazz for a special engagement with what the venue calls "a rhythm section of hard bop royalty." A veteran of both New York and San Francisco scenes who has performed with Albert "Tootie" Heath, Matt Wilson, Grant Stewart, and Louis Moholo-Moholo, Wolff is known for his focus on melodic storytelling while drawing from bebop, hard bop, and post-bop traditions. His six albums as a bandleader showcase both adventurous original compositions and classic jazz repertoire.

Joining Wolff is pianist Peter Zak, "one of the leading piano stylists of the NY jazz scene" who has been a fixture at The New School since 1995. Known for his mastery of the piano trio format and thoughtful interpretations, Zak has released eleven albums as a leader and collaborated with George Coleman, Ryan Kisor, and Walt Weiskopf. The rhythm section is completed by the "masterful bass and drum duo" of Essiet Okon Essiet and Sylvia Cuenca — Essiet, a premier New York bassist who served as Art Blakey's last bassist with the Jazz Messengers and gained acclaim with Bobby Watson's Horizon, and Cuenca, a hard-swinging post-bop drummer known for her long associations with Clark Terry and Joe Henderson.

This is the kind of straight-ahead jazz quartet that exemplifies the bebop and hard bop traditions — a meeting of seasoned musicians who understand the language deeply. Based on Wolff's past performances, audiences can expect a mix of his original compositions and classic jazz standards, delivered with the kind of musical conversation that comes when four accomplished players truly listen to each other. As one review noted about Wolff's quartet work, the execution flows "like a fine tuned machine – each in sync with the others," delivering "reliably clear and committed" performances that are "dependably enjoyable" without overwhelming complexity.

The show features two sets at 7pm and 9pm.