The Campbell Brothers
Zinc Bar82 West 3rd Street, New York 10012
The Campbell Brothers bring their duo to Zinc Bar: pianist Cameron Campbell and bassist Conway Campbell Jr. The pair’s set is built around an improvisation-forward approach, with both musicians also contributing as composers. Their shared Worcester roots and current work in New York’s creative music community frame an evening focused on the exchange between piano and bass.
Cameron Campbell is a Worcester, Massachusetts-born pianist, composer and producer with more than fifty original compositions. A former student of Christian Sands, he has toured the United States, Japan and Brazil with three-time GRAMMY-winning vocalist Samara Joy, and has worked with Jeff “Tain” Watts, Kendrick Scott, Jaleel Shaw, Ingrid Jensen, Maurice Brown and Marcus Gilmore. Conway Campbell Jr., also raised in Worcester, began on cello before moving to upright bass. He studied at the University of Hartford’s Jackie McLean Institute with Ron Carter, Gerald Cannon and Nat Reeves, and is now pursuing a master’s degree at Manhattan School of Music under Buster Williams. His collaborators include Jeremy Pelt, Godwin Louis, Steve Davis, Joe Farnsworth, Bennie Wallace and Stacy Dillard; his appearances include the Newport Jazz Festival.
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.