Tsutomu Nakai
Zinc Bar82 West 3rd Street, New York 10012
Tsutomu Nakai leads a jazz quartet at Zinc Bar, with Toru Dodo on piano, Paul Sikivie on bass, and Dwayne Cook Broadnax on drums. The guitarist is billed for two sets, giving the group room to shape an evening around Nakai’s melodic improvising and the interplay of guitar, piano, bass, and drums. Expect a working-band jazz set built around his compositions and interpretations rather than a solo guitar performance.
Nakai is a jazz guitarist from Japan who began playing local clubs while still in high school. Based between New York City and Japan, he has developed a sound described as “beautiful and strong, yet versatile,” with melody at its core. Inspired by Jim Hall and mentored by Gene Bertoncini, he brings classic-jazz lineage to his own writing and playing. His recordings include G’s Wish, featuring Mark Turner, and Starry Night. His collaborators include Jimmy Heath, Lonnie Plaxico, Russell Malone, Michael Kanan, Jim Rotondi, Gene Jackson, Fukushi Tainaka, Sadao Watanabe, Peter Bernstein, Mark Turner, and Sullivan Fortner.
Zinc Bar offers a richly textured experience where the past and present of jazz converge in a single, dimly lit room adorned with Art Deco details like velvet upholstery, polished brass, and a Parisian zinc bar. The venue’s layout centers around a close-up stage and a vintage bar, creating a setting where the music is both the focus and a shared journey. Patrons can expect expertly crafted cocktails alongside performances that range from world-class jazz to vibrant Brazilian and African rhythms, often featuring multiple sets and occasional late-night jams. The seating is lounge-style, encouraging attentive listening rather than casual chatter, making it a place to immerse fully in the sound. This is a space where history lingers, once hosting legends like Billie Holiday and Thelonious Monk, now continuing their legacy with a sophisticated yet welcoming vibe.