JACOB GARCHIK
Close Up154 Orchard St, New York 10002
Jacob Garchik comes to Close Up for an evening billed simply under his name, with Garchik identified on trombone. The listing does not name any accompanying musicians or confirm whether the date is a solo performance, so the musical formation and repertoire remain open. What is clear is that this is a chance to hear a player whose work moves among jazz, contemporary classical music and Balkan brass-band settings.
Born in San Francisco, Garchik has lived in New York since 1994 and is a multi-instrumentalist, composer and arranger active in the city’s downtown and Brooklyn scenes. He has released seven albums as a leader, including The Heavens: the Atheist Gospel Trombone Album, and co-leads the Mexican brass band Banda de los Muertos. His trombone work has connected him with Henry Threadgill, Steve Swallow, Anthony Braxton, John Hollenbeck and George Lewis, as well as Mary Halvorson’s Amaryllis Sextet. Since 2006, he has supplied more than 120 arrangements and transcriptions for Kronos Quartet, whose recordings feature his work across releases from Floodplain to Glorious Mahalia. He also writes for artists including Laurie Anderson, Rhiannon Giddens and Angelique Kidjo, and won the 2025 El Intruso International Jazz Critics Poll for trombone.
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.