THOMAS LINGER TRIO
Five Spot Jazz231 East 9th Street, New York 10003
Thomas Linger brings his piano trio to Five Spot Jazz with Raul Reyes on bass and Jacob Smith on drums. The group is a composition-driven ensemble built around rhythmic depth and long-form narrative.
A New York-based pianist originally from Waynesville, North Carolina, Linger won first place in the American Jazz Pianist Competition and was a 2023 American Pianist Awards finalist. His engagements have included performances alongside Peter Bernstein, Peter Washington, Joe Farnsworth and Francisco Mela.
Operating inside the compact East Village storefront of daytime café Hi-Collar, this revival of a storied downtown name shifts nightly into a dedicated jazz listening room with table seating and bar service. Listings for upcoming performances are cataloged on event calendars including Hot House Jazz. Guests sit close to the players as small combos, vocalists, and piano trios perform across multiple evening sets. The venue offers table reservations through booking platforms, with walk-ins accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis. Alongside the music, the bar serves a food menu featuring Japanese dishes, sake, whiskey, and cocktails. The audience gathers primarily to hear the music up close over dinner and drinks, preserving the legacy of the original mid-century café that once hosted landmark residencies by Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane.