Roxy Bar Presents: Pianist Michael Garin
Roxy Bar2 Avenue of the Americas, New York 10013
Michael Garin, Roxy Bar's resident pianist, plays a live piano set built around abrupt, knowing changes of musical reference. The venue describes a stream of musical consciousness that can move among Shaggy, Om Kalthum, Rossini, Jobim, Zappa and Raymond Scott, blurring the line between pianist and DJ. Garin also invites requests and folds comic gestures into the performance, including tap dancing from the piano bench. It is an evening shaped by a player who treats the room, rather than a fixed concert program, as part of the set.
A longtime presence in New York nightlife, Garin is a Drama Desk Award winner whose résumé includes Elaine's, The Monkey Bar, The Rainbow Room and Limelight's VIP Room. He co-created and co-starred in Song of Singapore, the environmental musical for which he received the award, and hosted midnight burlesque shows in the mid-1990s that helped launch the burlesque revival. His work has also included acting stints with Spike Lee, while his daily promotional poems have attracted a Facebook following. Pianist, songwriter, singer, poet, actor and song-and-dance man, he has built a career around crossing forms and responding to the particular place where he is playing.
Roxy Bar offers a stylish setting where live jazz fills the air, accompanied by a menu that caters to diverse tastes including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. The room features plush seating and a well-stocked bar, creating a comfortable environment to enjoy performances by resident musicians or special guests. Shows typically run in the evening with sets from 6pm to 10pm, followed by DJs spinning vinyl late into the night. Weekend brunches also feature live music, blending dining and entertainment seamlessly. The venue balances attentive service with a relaxed vibe, making it a place to savor both cocktails and music without distraction. Its location in Tribeca adds a downtown charm, inviting guests to linger over oysters or a crafted cocktail while soaking in the sounds.