still cooking
The Cooker July 6, 2025
From July 2 through July 6, 2025, the hard‑bop super‑group The Cookers settled into New York’s Smoke Jazz Club for a five‑night residency—two sets each evening, with an extra late show on Friday and Saturday. Tucked into a cozy corner on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, at the corner of Duke Ellington Boulevard and Broadway, Smoke Jazz & Supper Club has become one of New York City's most beloved venues for live jazz. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 forced Smoke to shut down temporarily. Following a major renovation, Smoke reopened in July 2022, with a redesigned interior, expanded dining area and an improved sound system. As a vital cultural institution that preserves the past and celebrates the present Smoke is a fitting venue for a band like The Cookers, matching the elegence of the environment with the style and nobility of the band. In spite of the crowded stage that barely fit the seven members, the venue is ideal and wonderful for fans who want to fully experience the music they love in an intimate and refined setting.
In the ever-evolving landscape of jazz, certain ensembles emerge not merely as performers, but as stewards of tradition and innovators of form. The Cookers are one such ensemble, a supergroup formed by some of the most esteemed musicians in the modern jazz world. While jazz is often characterized by its embrace of youthful experimentation, The Cookers defy this trope by assembling seasoned veterans who channel decades of experience into a sound that is both deeply rooted in the hard-bop tradition and dynamically forward-looking.
The band was formed around 2007 by trumpeter David Weiss. Weiss envisioned a band that could bring together musicians with rich histories in the jazz tradition, many of whom had played with legendary artists of the 1960s and 70s. The concept was to combine that wealth of experience with a collective spirit, emphasizing group interplay and original compositions over any one leader’s vision. The band's name, The Cookers, pays homage to a classic 1965 album by Freddie Hubbard titled The Night of the Cookers, which featured a fiery live set with Hubbard and Lee Morgan. That album, full of explosive solos and hard-driving rhythm, captured the essence of hard-bop in its rawest form—a fitting namesake for a band that aims to revive and expand upon that tradition. A veritable who's who of jazz greats, each member of the band boasts an illustrious career, and many have played pivotal roles in shaping modern jazz. The standard lineup can change from time to time and has included: David Weiss (trumpet), Donald Harrison (alto saxophone, occasionally), George Cables (piano), Cecil McBee (bass) , Billy Hart (drums), Eddie Henderson (trumpet) and Billy Harper (tenor saxophone) who was replaced on these dates by Azar Lawrence.
David Weiss, the architect behind The Cookers, has been a champion of modern post-bop and a staunch advocate for the preservation of underappreciated jazz talent. Known for his work with the New Jazz Composers Octet and his leadership in tributes to Freddie Hubbard and Wayne Shorter, Weiss serves as the group’s organizer, composer, and producer. His arrangements often serve as the structural glue that binds the ensemble’s powerful individual voices. In addition to his work with The Cookers, Weiss most recently produced and oversaw the release of Mosaic's Complete Pharaoh Sanders Theresa Recordings.
A pianist of exquisite taste and sensitivity, George Cables has long been a favorite among horn players for his lush voicings and lyrical touch. His playing evokes the swing of Wynton Kelly, the harmonic depth of Herbie Hancock, and the soulful touch of McCoy Tyner. A prolific composer, his works such as "Think on Me" have become staples in the jazz songbook.
Cecil McBee has been an indispensable figure in post-bop and spiritual jazz. McBee’s resonant, woody tone and rhythmic command have made him one of the most respected bassists of his generation. His work with Pharoah Sanders, Alice Coltrane, and Charles Lloyd exemplifies his adaptability and depth. In The Cookers, McBee provides a solid yet flexible foundation, anchoring the group’s ambitious harmonic journeys.
Billy Hart's resume includes work with Wes Montgomery, Stan Getz, and Herbie Hancock. Hart is revered for his nuanced, conversational drumming style. He is both a timekeeper and a storyteller, pushing and pulling the music with a master’s touch. Hart’s contributions to The Cookers go beyond rhythm—his musical intuition helps drive the ensemble’s collective expression.
Eddie Henderson, a trumpet player with a unique voice, Henderson came to prominence with Herbie Hancock’s Mwandishi band in the early 1970s, blending avant-garde jazz with electric fusion. Trained both as a classical musician and a medical doctor, Henderson’s phrasing is elegant and expressive. His versatility allows him to move fluidly between lyrical ballads and explosive solos, contributing a distinct layer to The Cookers’ sonic palette.
Though not a permanent member of The Cookers, Donald Harrison has served as a powerful and dynamic presence during his appearances with the group. A masterful alto saxophonist known for blending traditional New Orleans jazz with modern post-bop, Harrison brings a sharp, soulful edge to the ensemble’s already rich sonic palette. His contributions add both lyrical finesse and fiery improvisational energy, complementing the group’s deep-rooted hard-bop aesthetic. At Sunday's performance Harrison's stature on stage and contribution was powerful and commanding.
During the final performance of their residency at Smoke The Cookers demonstrated their unmistakably trademark sound steeped in the tradition of hard and post-bop but far from nostalgic. The septet embodied a philosophy that respects the past while actively engaging the present, evident in their choice of repertoire that included band originals and a cover of Freddie Hubbard's "Lament for Booker." Each composition in the short set list was extended for band improvisation and compelling solos that allowed each member of the band to shine and find new terrain within the familiar material. The compositions, complex and often spiritually charged, reflected the lived experiences of musicians who came of age during the civil rights era and the revolutionary jazz movements of the 1960s. By the final set Sunday night, the septet had reaffirmed why they are regarded as living keepers of the flame: playing with the urgency of youth, the authority of elders, and the communal spirit that defines jazz at its best.
The Cookers serve as a living bridge between the golden age of jazz and its contemporary moment. Sunday's performance demonstrated once again how vital Jazz music remains and how spirited and exciting these elder statesmen of Jazz continue to be even in their later years. In a world constantly chasing the new, The Cookers prove that sometimes, the future of jazz lies in the seasoned hands of its elders—still cooking, still burning, still exciting audiences and still pushing the music forward.
Set List
1. Echo of a Scream (George Cables)
2. Peacemaker (Cecil McBee)
3. Lament for Booker (Freddie Hubbard)
4. Double or Nothing (George Cables)
