April Varner Quartet
Zinc Bar82 West 3rd Street, New York 10012
April Varner brings her quartet to Zinc Bar for a CD release performance. The New York jazz vocalist is joined by Will Hill III on piano, Aaron Matson on guitar, Eytan Schillinger-Hyman on bass, and Max Marsillo on drums. It is a chance to hear Varner’s voice in a small-group setting, with repertoire shaped by her work in the American Songbook and vocalese tradition.
Toledo-born and New York-based, Varner is a vocalist, composer and arranger recognized for bebop technique and contemporary storytelling. She won the 2023 International Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Vocal Competition and received an honorable mention in the 2024 ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composers Competition. Her 2024 debut, April by April Varner, earned four stars in DownBeat and appeared on its Best Albums of 2024 list. Varner has collaborated with Kurt Elling, Jane Monheit, John Pizzarelli, Ulysses Owens Jr., Theo Bleckmann, Yasushi Nakamura, Nicole Zuraitis and Russell Malone. DownBeat praised her “impressive range,” while The New York City Jazz Record heard “vocal dynamism,” “authentic jazz phrasing,” and a “profound command of deep scat and vocalese.”
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.