Harrison Ford digs jazz. At least, that's what a headline read as news of Han Solo attending a concert at Smalls Jazz Club surfaced this week. In a video, Mr. Ford is seen listening to Kush Abadey as he sports, as you would have it, the "jazz face."
The old New York haunt is a mainstay for the jazz scene in the city. Smalls, while a well-known club located in the West Village, turned into a YouTube clip for Star Wars fans abound.
Owner Spike Wilner captioned the video's Facebook post saying:
"Yes, Harrison Ford hanging hard at Smalls after-hours. Finally leaving at 2:28 AM after enjoying Theo Hill and then Corey Wallace. Exceptionally nice person and loved the music and the club."
For jazz, the community at large has been suffering during these times because of a lack of interest in the genre. Some jazz musicians even resort to dealing drugs to support their own habits as well as their finances.
But, with Mr. Harrison Ford making an appearance and inadvertently giving his endorsement to jazz, so have other stars come out of the woodwork to pay tribute to the music's late-giants.
Coming this year, Don Cheadle portrays Miles Davis in the biopic Miles Ahead. Also coming as a limited release later this month, Ethan Hawke channels the troubled Chet Baker in the biopic Born to Be Blue, named of course after his famous recording.
Hopefully these moments can help shed light on the genre as it struggles to stay alive and relevant in the age of technology. The music is timeless and deserves acknowledgment from the industry and supporters of its artists.
Nonetheless, check out Harrison Ford at Smalls below and be sure to support the local jazz clubs in your area today.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article claimed "most jazz musicians" sell drugs to support their career. That statement has since been amended.
