Songbird Saturdays featuring James Zito and Dillon Acey
The Parlour at The Barclay111 East 48th Street, New York 10017
Songbird Saturdays at The Parlour at The Barclay bills New York-based guitarist James Zito alongside clarinetist Dillon Acey. The listing presents the pair on the same bill but does not identify them as an established duo or specify the formation they will use. It is an early-evening appearance in the hotel’s restaurant and lounge, where live jazz accompanies dinner, drinks, and conversation.
Zito was born in Orlando, Florida, and is now based in New York. His playing draws on Wes Montgomery, Les Paul, and George Benson, with “story, blues, and swing at the forefront” of his music. Artslife Magazine nicknamed him “The Natural,” while reviews of Zito’s Jump praised his “stylistic flexibility” and “clearly developed artistic voice”; The Jazz Word called it a “confident and deeply informed debut.” He has performed with Rodney Whitaker, Michael Dease, Wycliffe Gordon, Dick Oatts, and Wynton Marsalis. Acey is a New York-based clarinetist working across classical, contemporary classical, and jazz, with a master’s degree in clarinet performance from the New England Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Richard Stoltzman. He has also performed with The Orchestra Now, Phoenix Orchestra, and the Glens Falls Symphony.
A polished hotel restaurant and lounge directly adjacent to the Barclay’s historic 1920s grand lobby, The Parlour pairs classic live jazz with an extensive beverage program featuring dozens of specialty gins and classic New York cocktails. Guests take seats at a central circular bar or spread across well-spaced dining tables, where the room accommodates full meals, casual bites, and drink service without requiring ticket purchases or cover fees. The atmosphere is conversational and leisurely, making it a natural setting for early-evening drinks or dinner while resident musicians, including the Café Society Jazz Band and acoustic duos, perform Great American Songbook standards and jazz selections. With no standing-room crowd and plenty of table seating just blocks from Grand Central Terminal, an evening here unfolds as an easygoing, refined Midtown nightcap.