FIVE WEEKS, FIVE WAYS
TO KEEP THE BEAT

From Rollins and Coltrane to Powell and
Monk, Steve Smith turns a Birdland
residency into a tour through jazz history

Drummer Steve Smith is settling into Birdland this fall—but he certainly isn’t settling into a routine.

Across five engagements in September and October 2026, Smith will move from his longtime group Vital Information to programs devoted to four giants of jazz: Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk. The changing lineups bring some formidable company along for the ride, making the residency less a single extended booking than five different reasons to head to Birdland.

It begins over Labor Day weekend, September 4–6, when Steve Smith & Vital Information take over the Birdland Theater for two shows nightly. Smith is joined by pianist Manuel Valera and bassist Janek Gwizdala.

The following weekend, September 11–13, Smith joins saxophonist Donny McCaslin and bassist Ben Allison for Way Out West: A Birthday Tribute to Sonny Rollins. The trio turns its attention to the music and influence of the legendary tenor saxophonist.

Then comes Coltrane. From September 22–26, Coltrane Revisited: Centennial Celebration marks the 100th anniversary of John Coltrane’s birth at the Birdland Jazz Club. Jimmy Greene plays tenor and soprano saxophones September 22–24, with Troy Roberts taking over on tenor September 25–26. Pianist Helen Sung, bassist Lonnie Plaxico and Smith complete the ensemble.

October brings the pianists into focus. From October 2–4, Bouncin’ with Bud: Bud Powell Birthday Celebration features pianist Tardo Hammer, guitarist Pasquale Grasso, Plaxico and Smith exploring the music of one of bebop’s defining figures.

Smith wraps up the five-program run October 9–11 with a Thelonious Monk Birthday Celebration, timed to Monk’s October 10 birthday. Pianist Uri Caine and bassist Ben Allison join Smith for the final weekend at the Birdland Theater.

Taken together, the five programs show just how much musical territory Smith can cover. Rather than repeating one lineup for five weeks, he uses the residency to move among different musicians, configurations and generations of jazz—while keeping one drummer at the center of it all.

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LABOR DAY WEEKEND — SEPTEMBER 4–6

STEVE SMITH & VITAL INFORMATION
Birdland Theater
Steve Smith – drums
Manuel Valera – piano
Janek Gwizdala – bass

Show Information & Tickets:
https://www.birdlandjazz.com/tm-event/steve-smith-vital-information/

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SEPTEMBER 11–13

DONNY MCCASLIN, BEN ALLISON, STEVE SMITH: “WAY OUT WEST” — A BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE TO SONNY ROLLINS
Birdland Theater
Donny McCaslin – tenor saxophone
Ben Allison – bass
Steve Smith – drums

Show Information & Tickets:
https://www.birdlandjazz.com/tm-event/donny-mccaslin-ben-allison-steve-smith-way-out-west-a-birthday-tribute-to-sonny-rollins/

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SEPTEMBER 22–26

COLTRANE REVISITED: CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
Birdland Jazz Club
Jimmy Greene – tenor & soprano saxophones (Sept. 22–24)
Troy Roberts – tenor saxophone (Sept. 25–26)
Helen Sung – piano
Lonnie Plaxico – bass
Steve Smith – drums

Show Information & Tickets:
https://www.birdlandjazz.com/tm-event/coltrane-revisited-centennial-celebration/

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OCTOBER 2–4

BOUNCIN’ WITH BUD: BUD POWELL BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
Birdland Theater
Tardo Hammer – piano
Pasquale Grasso – guitar
Lonnie Plaxico – bass
Steve Smith – drums

Show Information & Tickets:
https://www.birdlandjazz.com/tm-event/bouncin-with-bud-bud-powell-birthday-celebration/

OCTOBER 9–11

THELONIOUS MONK BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
Birdland Theater
Uri Caine – piano
Ben Allison – bass
Steve Smith – drums

Show Information & Tickets:
https://www.birdlandjazz.com/tm-event/thelonious-monk-birthday-celebration/

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Steve Smith Residency
Birdland, 315 W. 44th St. in New York City, 212.581.3080
September & October, 2026
for more on Steve Smith, visit Vital Information