Mejedi Owusu Quartet
Zinc Bar82 West 3rd Street, New York 10012
Mejedi Owusu brings his quartet to Zinc Bar for an evening of original, cross-current music led by the British-born trumpeter, pianist and composer. The billed quartet’s personnel have not been announced, but Owusu’s sets draw on Gospel, Gospel Highlife, West African traditions and Western classical music, joining vivid improvisation to strong grooves and clear melodic lines. Expect a band format built around his writing and playing rather than a standard repertory presentation.
Raised in Suffolk, England, Owusu studied at London’s Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance before continuing at The Juilliard School in New York. He has performed with pianist Emmet Cohen and appeared at Dizzy’s Club, Smalls and Lucille’s, alongside UK engagements at the Royal Albert Hall with the Chineke! Foundation and Ronnie Scott’s with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Great Britain. His sound has also been described as Gospel Highlife and West African rhythms meeting classic hard-bop improvisation. Reviewing a 2026 performance, one writer praised his bop and hard-bop “fluency,” noting long, fluent lines that could arrive “at breakneck speed.”
Zinc Bar offers a richly textured experience where the past and present of jazz converge in a single, dimly lit room adorned with Art Deco details like velvet upholstery, polished brass, and a Parisian zinc bar. The venue’s layout centers around a close-up stage and a vintage bar, creating a setting where the music is both the focus and a shared journey. Patrons can expect expertly crafted cocktails alongside performances that range from world-class jazz to vibrant Brazilian and African rhythms, often featuring multiple sets and occasional late-night jams. The seating is lounge-style, encouraging attentive listening rather than casual chatter, making it a place to immerse fully in the sound. This is a space where history lingers, once hosting legends like Billie Holiday and Thelonious Monk, now continuing their legacy with a sophisticated yet welcoming vibe.