Maxx and the Velvet Smoke Jazz Band from Staten Island, NY

Maxx and the Velvet Smoke brings together four accomplished musicians with deep roots in jazz, classical music, musical theater, and the New York performance scene. Led by vocalist Tracy Bidleman, whose distinguished career has spanned opera, concert, and musical theater—including performances at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, and Alice Tully Hall—the band is a soulful return to her roots in jazz and the timeless American Songbook. At the heart of the group is the extraordinary musical chemistry of pianist Miho Sasaki, an award-winning jazz artist originally from Japan who has performed at New York’s premier jazz venues including Birdland and Smalls, bassist Moto Kobayashi, whose extensive performance credits include the Moto Trio, Cinema Paradiso Band, and the 2025 Blues BBQ Festival, and Jerrold Kavanagh, a versatile veteran performer who has shared the stage with artists including Joshua Redman, Victor Wooten, and Bill Haley and His Comets. Together, Maxx and the Velvet Smoke creates a sophisticated yet inviting sound—blending the elegance of the Great American Songbook with the warmth, swing, and spontaneity of live jazz. Whether setting the mood for an intimate cocktail evening, bringing energy to a corporate gathering, or adding a touch of class to a special celebration, the band delivers music that is polished, heartfelt, and irresistibly cool. Classic songs. Sophisticated sound. A little velvet. A whole lot of smoke.