LUKE BERGMAN - MARTIN NEVIN - JASON BURGER
LUKE BERGMAN, MARTIN NEVIN, JASON BURGER
Close Up154 Orchard St, New York 10002
Luke Bergman, Martin Nevin, and Jason Burger bring a pedal steel trio to Close Up. Bergman plays pedal steel guitar, with Nevin on bass and Burger on drums, for a program described as mostly covers. The pedal steel is the set’s defining voice: slow and swelling, giving the music an aged, gentle, at times mildly ambiguous character. Nevin’s active but restrained bass and Burger’s carefully placed drumming complete the three-person arrangement.
Originally from Washington state, Bergman developed his musicality across several instruments and is particularly noted for his bass work with Bill Frisell, Cuong Vu, and Ted Poor. Nevin’s playing has been praised for anchoring the trio with “remarkable delicacy,” remaining active while serving the music at hand. Burger has played in the bands of Andrew Bird, Big Thief, and Kenny Werner, and is recognized for choosing gestures and moments that support the group. Writing in All About Jazz, Max Kutner heard the three musicians as “three wise men who prefer to observe more often than describe their subject.”
Close Up offers a focused jazz experience in a sleek, minimalist space on Manhattan's Lower East Side, where the sound system and acoustics bring every note into sharp relief. The venue features a small back room that invites close connection with the performers, creating a setting where music is the main event and distractions are minimal. Shows run six nights a week with multiple sets, encouraging a deep dive into the music rather than a casual night out. A bar serves Latin American-inspired bites and cocktails, complementing the listening experience without overwhelming it. The crowd tends to be attentive, drawn by the artist-driven programming that blends classic jazz traditions with fresh, innovative sounds. This is a place to settle in, listen closely, and savor the evolving jazz scene in a refined yet approachable environment.