Nate Birkey Quartet: Chet Baker Revisited

A recent transplant from Southern California, Nate Birkey is already attracting attention on the New York music scene. For his debut at the Metropolitan Room, Nate revisits the music of Chet Baker, one of his life-long idols, and performs some original compositions.

Critics have compared Birkey’s subtle vocal and trumpet approach to that of Baker and Miles Davis, respectively. It is a sound that is poised and assured, powerfully stark and spare, creating an atmosphere at once solitary and electric. Birkey’s live performances combine straight-ahead jazz with occasional detours into blues, Latin Jazz, gospel, and even country, all the while maintaining a cohesive sound that is passionate, intelligent and haunting. He is joined by Jim Ridl on piano, along with bassist Tony Marino and drummer Marko Marcinko.