Drummer Vinnie Rodriguez leads a quartet with trombonist Scott Larson,  pianist Larry Chinn and bassist Adam Thompson exploring music by Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington, Jerome Kern and more. Scott is one of several really wonderful trombonists that can be found on the San Francisco jazz scene — he’s a fine arranger as well, and he and Vinnie have collaborated closely in conceiving tonight’s date. Expect a delightful and satisfying couple of sets!

Vinnie has organized and led Bird & Beckett’s fourth-Saturday jazz club! dates for the past fifteen months, since May 2015, and in fact has played on them for 26 solid months, beginning with a May 24, 2014 series preview date led by Michael Parsons with bassist Charles Thomas joining the rhythm section behind trumpeter Jay Sanders.  On July 26, 2014, Michael officially kicked off his run of Saturdays with Vinnie on three dates, until Michael’s departure for Paris. Saxophonist Terrance Tony joined that band in August, played again on Michael’s farewell date in September and then took over leadership of the 4th Saturdays, with the steady presence of Vinnie on drums, for five dates through February 2015. After an unfortunate month’s hiatus for Tony in March, with Vinnie filling in as leader on the March date, Tony passed away April 7, 2015. Vinnie organized a quintet date in remembrance of Terrance on April 25th with Jesse Levit on alto sax, Danny Brown on tenor sax, Larry Chinn on piano and Aaron Cohn on bass.

Since May 2015, Vinnie has led the 4th Saturdays jazz club dates with one great band after another. This month will be no exception, with Scott Larson, whose history with Vinnie goes way back, working with him to shape the set lists and contributing his own vast talents in musicianship and arranging. Having Larry back on piano is a lovely echo of that Terrance-dedicated date. We heard him here just this past March, and he never sounded better! As for bassist Adam Thompson, we’re excited to have the prospect of a musician new to us take the stage.

Terrance Tony Quartet 10-25-2014 with Eugene Pliner, piano; Aaron Cohn, bass; Vinnie Rodriguez, drums.