Are you a musician who has performed at Smalls or Mezzrow in the past and doesn’t have an artist account then please contact us directly at musician@smallslive.com.
The SmallsLIVE Foundation for Jazz Art & Education is a not-for-profit arts organization.
Our mission is to subsidize the operation of our venues, recording projects, tours and educational initiatives.
During this Covid-19 pandemic our mission is to keep the clubs floating until business can be restored.
We will also sponsor live-streamed concerts from the club that will keep the musicians working during this period.
We will also be offering emergency aid for Jazz musicians in need due to this calamity.
Archive
The SmallsLIVE Archive is an audio/video library of all the shows at Smalls & Mezzrow.
Royalties are paid directly to the musicians by The SmallsLIVE Foundation.
Members sponsor their favorite musicians by listening to their music.
Live Stream
Smalls Jazz Club has been a pioneer in live streaming and began streaming shows live from the venue in 2007.
There is no cost to watch our live streams. During normal operating times the entire evening is streamed.
During this Covid-19 pandemic period there will be special live concerts scheduled in advance.
SmallsLIVE Catalog
The SmallsLIVE Catalog is a collection of individually produced artist projects.
SmallsLIVE Members may sponsor artists of their choice and receive their music as downloads or CDs.
Sponsorships directly support the artist.
Kaisa Mäensivu
Bass
Recently Added
01/22/2025
Smalls
Kaisa Mäensivu Quartet
11/18/2024
Smalls
Benny Benack Quintet
04/04/2024
Smalls
Kaisa Mäensivu Quintet
08/31/2023
Smalls
Kaisa Mäensivu Quintet
06/01/2022
Smalls
Kaisa’s Machine & Jam Session
03/30/2022
Smalls
Joe Peri Quintet & Jam Session
12/01/2021
Smalls
Benny Benack Quintet & Jam Session
07/07/2019
Smalls
Curtis Nowosad's CNQ
07/28/2018
Smalls
Tim Hagans Quartet
Upcoming Shows
Originally from Finland, Kaisa Mäensivu is a jazz bassist, composer and bandleader living in New York City. Her imaginative playing, that has been described as “uniquely creative” by Hrayr Attarian in All About Jazz, is in demand in Finland and internationally. She is the founder of the group Kaisa's Machine, “A band of young aces” as described by Giovanni Russonello of The New York Times and she has lead her band at festivals and clubs around the world, including the North Sea Jazz Festival, Ronnie Scott’s and Bimhuis to name a few. Mäensivu is a regular guest with other groups as well and she has collaborated with artists like Kurt Rosenwinkel, Dave Kikoski, Seamus Blake and Tim Hagans.
The contemporary scene in New York has shaped her style and strengthened her technique. Growing up in Finland, there was always a piano in Mäensivu’s home and she recalls it was her first instrument, “I would always climb up to the piano and play to entertain myself.” She started lessons early, aged six, but it was seeing a woman play double bass on television that set things in motion, “It looked so impressive,” and it chimed deeply with the connection she has to rhythm.
Studying jazz at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki along with graduating with a Master’s degree from the prestigious Manhattan School of Music in 2017 heralded a career as a musician. She is a prolific bandleader and composer, having released four albums as a bandleader on top of the numerous jazz recordings she plays on as a side musician, two of which have been nominated for the Finnish Jazz Prize, Emma- award.
Mäensivu has won several awards including first prize at the International Riga Jazz Stage contest for bass players in 2018 and the ’Rising Star’ award at the Pori Jazz Festival.
“Strong, highly musical bass presence” — London Jazz News