This is a standby for me where I go to when there is no one I want to hear at the major jazz clubs. What's great about Smalls is that they have a live feed of their performances (your love ones might even see you jiven' to the groove).
Click here for the live feed to hear what New York Jazz is all about This is a great place to hang out and listen to unknown jazz artists (which makes it interesting because jazz is always about the unexpected).