Roxy Bar Presents: Pianist Michael Garin
Roxy Bar2 Avenue of the Americas, New York 10013
Michael Garin plays a solo piano set as Roxy Bar’s resident pianist. His downtown program is built less like a standard piano-bar repertoire than a continuously shifting set, moving among songs and musical references from Shaggy, Om Kalthum, Rossini, Jobim, Zappa and Raymond Scott. Requests are part of the format, alongside his comic asides and occasional tap dancing from the piano bench. The result is a pianist-led evening that deliberately blurs the line between live playing and a DJ’s associative flow.
Originally from Greenbelt, Maryland, Garin has been a fixture of New York nightlife for decades. He co-created and co-starred in the environmental musical Song of Singapore, work that earned him a Drama Desk Award, and his credits include performances for and with Frank Zappa, James Chance, David Lee Roth and Kool & the Gang, plus acting stints with Spike Lee. He has also guested on A$AP Rocky’s Don’t Be Dumb. Reviewing Garin’s range from Lizzo, Busta Rhymes and Jay-Z to Sondheim and Noël Coward, The New York Sun’s Will Friedwald called him “perhaps the most compelling musical omnivore I’ve ever encountered.”
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.