The Hank Hehmsoth Trio - Live at Nica on 4th

The Hank Hehmsoth Trio plays Nica on 4th this Wednesday, September 9, from 6:30 to 9:30 PM. It's a piano trio led by Hank Hehmsoth, a San Antonio pianist and jazz historian, with Utah Hamrick on bass and Nic Chacon on drums.

The set mixes modern swing and classic jazz, pairing live improvisation with a selection of jazz compositions dedicated to Baroness Kathleen Annie Pannonica 'Nica' de Koenigswarter. Between the songs, Hehmsoth shares brief stories about her role in jazz history. The Baroness was a legendary patron, photographer, and champion of bebop, and the music she inspired is exactly what the trio is drawing from for the evening.

That name is also why the venue is called Nica on 4th, Austin's newest Prohibition-style cocktail lounge. It's built around a 1920s elegance, with signature cocktails and an intimate Art Deco listening-room atmosphere. The whole night is tied to the same figure: the room is named for her, and the music is dedicated to her.

It's a mid-week date, so it works as a standalone evening or a way to break up the week. The music runs from 6:30 to 9:30 PM at Nica on 4th.