Mark Whitfield Trio
Zinc Bar82 West 3rd Street, New York 10012
Mark Whitfield leads his trio at Zinc Bar for an evening of jazz. The bill names the group as the Mark Whitfield Trio, though the other musicians are not listed, leaving the personnel beyond Whitfield unconfirmed. Expect a guitar-led trio set from a New York player whose work reaches from straight-ahead jazz to collaborations across pop, soul and R&B.
A native New Yorker, Whitfield studied at Berklee College of Music and returned home after graduating in 1987 to build his career as a jazz guitarist. He has worked with Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, Quincy Jones, Ray Charles, Herbie Hancock and his mentor George Benson, and later recorded with artists including Sting, D’Angelo, Mary J. Blige, John Mayer, Diana Krall and Christian McBride. The New York Times called him “The Best Young Guitarist in the Business” in 1990. A Jazz in Marciac review heard “constant melodic freshness,” a “crisp attack” and controlled virtuosity in his playing, while JazzTimes, reviewing his trio record Live and Uncut, wrote that “Trio magic, more or less, ensues.”
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.