Matt Pavolka's New Quintet: Jazz Ensemble in New York

About Matt Pavolka's New Quintet

Matt Pavolka’s New Quintet is a jazz group led by bassist and composer Matt Pavolka, heard in New York City at Smalls Jazz Club. The band’s work sits in the modern small‑ensemble tradition, with arrangements built to leave room for individual voices while keeping the pulse in clear view. Pavolka’s writing and leadership favor structure over spectacle, using tight cues and elastic time to shape each set. In performance, the quintet treats the room as part of the music, leaning into close listening and quick turns.