Listen "Episode 61: Spike Wilner"
Episode Synopsis
Pianist Spike Wilner belongs to the tradition of jazz musicians who also own and operate clubs. In his case it came by accident, or rather, a series of accidents. Spike owns and operates Smalls and Mezzrow, two of the most vibrant, hip and important clubs on the jazz scene. Along with his partner Mitch Borden, Spike has cultivated and curated a community of musicians and fans whose influence reaches around the world. In 2007 they began live streaming concerts from Smalls, and since then they have built an archive of over 12,000 concerts (35 more are added each week) featuring 2000 musicians. How does Spike book the club? How does one go about getting a gig at one of the most prestigious clubs in the world? How does success change the dynamic of the club? How does thinking of himself as an archivist affect his job? What is the future of the live jazz business? How does he balance a life of playing music with a life of managing it? As Spike says, "The scene is alive. It's like electricity. It's out there. You just have to know how to capture it."
More episodes of the podcast The Third Story with Leo Sidran
310: Remembering Phil Upchurch
08/12/2025
309: Madison Cunningham
24/11/2025
308: Theo Bleckmann
10/11/2025
307: dodie
27/10/2025
306: Vera Brandes
19/10/2025
305: Jacob Jeffries
10/10/2025
304: Leonor Watling
04/10/2025
303: Stella Cole
10/09/2025
302: Ben Sidran at 82
14/08/2025
301: Mary Sweeney Returns
08/08/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.