Marius Van Den Brink (keyboard) duo
Cork SoHo69 Thompson Street, New York 10012
Marius Van Den Brink leads a keyboard duo at Cork SoHo on Sunday night. The listing does not name his musical partner or give a program for the set, but it forms part of the bar’s regular Sunday live jazz series. Expect the focus to be on Van Den Brink’s keyboard work in a two-person setting, with the rest of the lineup left unannounced.
Originally from Amsterdam, Van Den Brink moved to New York City and has worked across the city’s jazz community. He has performed and recorded with Jeff “Tain” Watts, Samara Joy, Joel Frahm, Stacy Dillard, Ingrid Jensen, Sean Jones, Ara Dinkjian, the Birdland Bigband and the Tonkunstler Orchestra. His 2023 releases featured a larger band with saxophone, trumpet, bass, drums and percussion, though that does not indicate this duo’s personnel. His composing has been praised as “a strong and original voice,” while Sean Jones likened it to “a modern Horace Silver.” Jim Rotondi called New York Knock “one of the best recordings I’ve heard in a long time.”
The bar is a small, well-lit room with a long wooden bar and a few tables tucked in the back, where you can sit and watch the musicians. The jazz sets are played every Sunday from 6 to 8 PM, and the musicians are local talents who share a genuine connection with the regulars. The walls are lined with rotating art and photography exhibitions, and there are artist opening nights that add to the experience. It's a place where you come to listen to live music, enjoy a drink, and spend time with friends. The atmosphere is relaxed and conversational, with the music filling the space and the bar serving a selection of wines and cheese boards.