Pasquale Grasso Trio
Zinc Bar82 West 3rd Street, New York 10012
Pasquale Grasso brings his trio to Zinc Bar for a jazz guitar-led set. The billing confirms the trio format, though the musicians joining Grasso for this date have not been announced. Expect a program shaped by his command of bebop language, with guitar lines and harmony informed by piano players as much as by the guitar tradition.
Italian-born and New York-based, Grasso is known for carrying the language of Bud Powell, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie onto guitar, alongside a classical-guitar foundation. He won the 2015 Wes Montgomery International Jazz Guitar Competition and has worked with Samara Joy, including on her Grammy-winning album Linger Awhile. Pat Metheny called him “the best guitar player I’ve heard in maybe my entire life” and “the most significant new guy I’ve heard in many, many years.” DownBeat hears “intricate harmonies and bebop phrasing” in a “clear, natural” sound; a 2025 Birdland review praised the trio’s “impeccable musicianship” and “deep chemistry.”
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.