Nat Reeves Sextet “Now in Time” Album Release Show
Nat Reeves Sextet “Now in Time” Album Release Show brings one of jazz’s most respected bassists and the all-star ensemble behind his new album to The Side Door in Old Lyme for two nights, Friday, August 14, and Saturday, August 15. Rather than assembling a separate touring group for the concerts, Reeves arrives with the musicians heard on Now in Time, giving audiences a rare chance to experience the album’s chemistry live and at close range.
The lineup is formidable. Reeves is joined by tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander, trombonist Steve Davis, trumpeter Eddie Henderson, pianist Caelan Cardello, and drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts. Between them are decades of performances and recordings with many of the defining artists in modern jazz, but the attraction here isn’t simply six impressive résumés sharing a stage. Now in Time was created by this ensemble, and these concerts allow the conversations heard on the record to continue in real time.
That matters at The Side Door. The Old Lyme club is a true listening room, small enough for audiences to hear the details that disappear in a larger hall: Reeves shifting the direction of a tune from the bass, a horn player responding, Watts changing the pulse underneath them. For two nights, the room becomes an unusually intimate setting for a sextet with this much collective experience.
The Nat Reeves Sextet
The album-release ensemble features:
Nat Reeves – Bass
Eric Alexander – Tenor Saxophone
Steve Davis – Trombone
Eddie Henderson – Trumpet
Caelan Cardello – Piano
Jeff “Tain” Watts – Drums
It’s a multigenerational group, bringing veteran players together with younger musicians while remaining rooted in the improvisation and musical conversation at the heart of jazz.
About Nat Reeves
Nat Reeves has spent more than four decades building a career as one of jazz’s most respected bassists.
His early career put him onstage with musicians including Jackie McLean, Benny Golson, Donald Byrd, Art Taylor, Mulgrew Miller, Kenny Kirkland, and Kenny Drew. In 1994, Reeves began a long association with saxophonist Kenny Garrett, becoming part of Garrett’s band during an important period in the saxophonist’s career.
Reeves’ credits also include work with Pharoah Sanders, George Coleman, Harold Mabern, George Cables, and Joe Farnsworth.
Yet Reeves isn’t simply a sideman with an extraordinary list of collaborators. As a bandleader, he has increasingly put his own musical ideas at the center, releasing State of Emergency, Blue Ridge, and now Now in Time.
About Now in Time
Released April 17, 2026, on Cellar Live, Now in Time brings the same six musicians appearing in Old Lyme together for a 12-track album running just over an hour.
The record moves between Reeves’ original compositions and carefully selected standards rather than treating either as separate territory. The sextet takes on “On Green Dolphin Street” and “Alice in Wonderland,” while also reaching beyond traditional jazz repertoire.
Throughout the album, Reeves’ bass doesn’t demand the spotlight. It guides the ensemble from underneath, giving the other musicians room to move while quietly shaping where the music goes next.
That interplay is particularly suited to a live performance. Jazz changes when musicians respond to a room, an audience and one another, meaning the Side Door performances aren’t simply recreations of the record. The album becomes the starting point.
Six Accomplished Jazz Musicians, One Small Room
Reeves’ band gives jazz listeners plenty to watch beyond the leader.
Trumpeter Eddie Henderson has a career stretching back more than five decades and has performed with major figures across several generations of jazz. Jeff “Tain” Watts became widely known through his work with Wynton and Branford Marsalis and has developed into one of the most distinctive drummers of his generation.
Tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander has established an extensive career as both a bandleader and collaborator, while trombonist Steve Davis has worked with artists ranging from Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers to Chick Corea. Pianist Caelan Cardello represents a younger generation of jazz musicians and has already earned significant recognition on the New York jazz scene.
Put them together, and the appeal becomes clearer: this isn’t Reeves surrounded by backing musicians. It’s six improvisers with distinct musical voices.
Two Nights at The Side Door
The sextet performs on both Friday and Saturday night, giving audiences two opportunities to hear the album-release program.
Friday, August 14
8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 15
8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Tickets include reserved seating.
Dinner Before the Show
The Side Door Jazz Club is located inside the historic Old Lyme Inn, making dinner and a concert easy to combine into one evening.
Guests who dine at the Old Lyme Inn before the performance receive 10% off their dinner bill.
Tickets
General Admission: $70.34
Student Admission: $38.57
The student discount is available to guests under age 25 with a valid school ID.
Seating is reserved.
Event Details
Dates
Friday, August 14, 2026
Saturday, August 15, 2026
Time
8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. each night
Location
The Side Door Jazz Club at the Old Lyme Inn
Address
85 Lyme St.
Old Lyme, CT
Admission
$70.34 general admission
$38.57 student admission for guests under 25 with school ID
Seating
Reserved seating
Dining
Ticket holders who dine at the Old Lyme Inn before the concert receive 10% off their dinner bill.
Important Notes
The performances feature the same six musicians who recorded Now in Time, including Nat Reeves, Eric Alexander, Steve Davis, Eddie Henderson, Caelan Cardello, and Jeff “Tain” Watts.
More Information
For more information, visit the event website using the Event Website link below.
For ticket purchases, click on the Ticketing link below.
