KEVIN SUN
Close Up154 Orchard St, New York 10002
Kevin Sun brings a saxophone-led set to Close Up on December 30, with two performances scheduled for the evening. The New York City saxophonist and composer will be the billed focus, presenting his own music in Close Up’s dedicated listening-room setting. The listing does not name accompanying performers, so the billed presentation is Kevin Sun on saxophone.
Sun is a New York City-based saxophonist and composer whose work DownBeat Magazine called “intense, harmonically virtuosic and compositionally complex.” He has released nine albums as a leader, most recently Lofi at Lowlands 二 in November 2025, and has recorded with the ensembles Mute, Earprint, and Great On Paper. His credits also include recordings led by Adam O’Farrill, Jacob Garchik, Dana Saul, Xiongguan Zhang, and Elijah Shiffer. Sun founded Endectomorph Music, a Brooklyn-based label for creative improvised music that has released more than 30 albums since 2015. Beyond the US, he has performed extensively in China and served as Artistic Director of the Blue Note China Jazz Orchestra from 2018 to 2020. Since September 2021, he has also held a continuing residency at Lowlands Bar in Gowanus.
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.