Allison Rocks National Arts Club

Bandleader/bassist/composer Ben Allison hosted an overflow crowd last night at the historic National Arts Club on Grammercy Park. The space was amazing, the Gothic Gilded Age former Samuel Tilden mansion, its 15 foot tall walls covered with museum's worth of impressive paintings. A celebration of the release of Allison's new and lauded album Little Things Run The World, the performance and pre-show reception attracted numerous journalists including reps from a near-sweep of New York City daily papers - Post, Times, Daily News and Sun, not to mention Associated Press, Sirius/NPR, Relix, Global Rhythm and others, and a NY 1 tv reporter who stayed the night. The space was tre recherche, and so were the hors d'oeuvres in my mind...the abundant fare included pigs in blankets, potato puffs, mini crab cakes, mini egg rolls, bacon wrapped dates. Well you get the picture.

Entrance to the National Arts Club.


Allison is prepped for an interview with NY 1 by intrepid one-woman-show reporter Stephanie Simon.



The scrum at the pre-event reception.


NY Daily News' Jim Farber talking to Ben Allison.

NY Posts' Bill Hoffman and Georgett Roberts.


L-R - Relix' Mike Greenhaus, Shore Fire's Rebecca Shapiro and Brendan Gilmartin, Global Rhythm's Tad Hendrickson.