How does the New York City jazz scene come back from the COVID-19 lockdown? Smalls in Greenwich Village is taking the first step in that direction with a new performance series called “Get the Cats Working Again.” Beginning Monday, June 1, live music will be played once again in the basement club, but not to an audience. Instead, a different band each night will perform two sets at 7 and 8:30 p.m. ET to an empty room—and to everyone watching on the SmallsLIVE website, which will stream the performances and then add them to its extensive live video archive. All performers will be paid for their work.
The shows are free—underwritten by the Billy Joel Foundation (which recently gave $25,000 to the nonprofit foundation that supports Smalls’ business) and by individual donors—but site registration is required. If you’re interested in becoming a donor for this series, contact the SmallsLive Foundation at foundation@smallslive.com and use the hashtag #GetTheCatsWorkingAgainFund.
The schedule for the first week of “Get the Cats Working Again” is as follows.
Monday, June 1: Joe Farnsworth
Tuesday, June 2: Johnny O’Neal
Wednesday, June 3: Peter Bernstein
Thursday, June 4: Joe Magnarelli
Friday, June 5: Jason Tiemann
Saturday, June 6: Josh Evans
Sunday, June 7: Bruce Harris
