Pasquale Grasso Trio
Zinc Bar82 West 3rd Street, New York 10012
Pasquale Grasso brings his trio to Zinc Bar for an evening led by the guitarist whose approach draws deeply on bebop and classical-guitar study. The bill names the Pasquale Grasso Trio, with no individual sidemen listed, and places Grasso in the close listening room for a full trio performance rather than one of his noted solo-guitar appearances.
Grasso is a New York-based working musician and teacher whose playing is shaped less by other jazz guitarists than by Bud Powell, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and the classical-guitar tradition. He won the 2015 Wes Montgomery International Jazz Guitar Competition and performed with Pat Martino’s organ trio; he also joined Dan Wilson, Camila Meza, Gilad Hekselman and Nir Felder in a Kennedy Center tribute to Pat Metheny. Metheny, speaking to Vintage Guitar, called him “the best guitar player I’ve heard in maybe my entire life,” praising the way Grasso brings Powell’s piano language to guitar. The guitarist’s solo work has been noted for its balanced tone, stride and boogie-woogie touches, single-note lines and chordal harmony, while his regular Monday engagements at Mezzrow helped develop his skill as a solo arranger.
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.