JACOB GARCHIK
Close Up154 Orchard St, New York 10002
Jacob Garchik brings a trombone-led set to Close Up, with two performances over the evening. The bill names Garchik alone, so no accompanying lineup is specified. It is an all-ages engagement from a musician 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 fixture of the Downtown and Brooklyn music communities. A multi-instrumentalist and composer as well as a trombonist, 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. Since 2006 he has made more than 120 arrangements and transcriptions for Kronos Quartet, with credits also including work for Laurie Anderson, Rhiannon Giddens, Angelique Kidjo and others. As a player, he has worked with Henry Threadgill, Steve Swallow, Anthony Braxton, John Hollenbeck and George Lewis, and he is part of Mary Halvorson’s Amaryllis Sextet, named DownBeat’s 2025 Group of the Year. He 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.