Axel Tosca’s Cuban Jam
Zinc Bar82 West 3rd Street, New York 10012
Axel Tosca’s Cuban Jam brings the Axel Tosca Trio to Zinc Bar, joined by Tosca’s mother, singer Xiomara Laugart. The weekly Thursday program connects Cuban sounds from the 1950s to today with Tosca’s modern-jazz, swing, and bebop sensibility. Laugart’s experience in Cuban Nueva trova, jazz standards, and Broadway numbers is part of the night’s wide-ranging frame, while the trio drives the set through Tosca’s blend of jazz, classical music, hip-hop, and Afro-Cuban rhythms.
Tosca is a Cuban pianist and a three-time Grammy nominee who began performing onstage at seven and studied with jazz musician Miriam Valdez. He has performed with Roy Hargrove, The Roots, and George Clinton, and his Zinc Bar jam is a standing Thursday residency that also makes room for collaborations with jazz artists. Laugart has appeared locally and internationally across Cuban Nueva trova, jazz standards, and Broadway material. In Village View, Kaju Roberto called the Tosca Trio and Laugart’s Cuban Jam “A Must-See Event in NYC!”
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.