Poster: Ebbe Roe Photo
All below production photos: Rich Woodson
"The Cool NYC", by Barry Eitel is set in autumn, 1959. Chet's been rotting at Riker's Island for a month after being caught in Harlem copping heroin. Occurring at a rehearsal studio on the West side, the play features a pianist (Gregory Chen) who is more than enthused about his advance copy of Miles Davis's "Kind of Blue", a saxophonist (Aaron M. Johnson) who is the most blissed-out and hip of the group, a bassist (Kyle Colina) there for the paycheck, and a drummer (Ethan Kogan) holding it all down. The group is rehearsing for Chet's comeback show, but the sidemen are left in the dark regarding the status of Baker's cabaret card.
Performances were at the legendary venue Jimmy' #43 Back Room, with Jimmy Carbone himself making a cameo as Herb Luscious, Baker's agent.
Gregory Chen dropping the needle on his advance copy of "Kind of Blue"
Jimmie G. (Ethan Kogan) blistered the play with his hard-driving bop chops.
Playing the bridge on Darn that Dream.
Zoot (Aaron Johnson) is cruising on the stuff that Chet needs - so he blows his top less than the other cats when it turns out Chet's taking them all for a ride.
Kyle Colina on bass. While his spoken lines are few, his bass lines riddle the play through.
"Look for the Silver Lining" rehearsal - the band has no idea that they're wasting their time.
Chen isn't taking to Chet's dissembling.
Thrown against the wall after the truth is out: Baker lost his cabaret card and can't perform in Manhattan - it's Long Island or Jersey only, which the rest of the cats can't hang with. They all bail, but Chen forgets his Davis album. Play closes with Chet reluctantly listening to his rival's new work.