Vanisha Gould Quaret
Zinc Bar82 West 3rd Street, New York 10012
Vanisha Gould brings her quartet to Zinc Bar for an evening of jazz led by the vocalist, composer, and bandleader. The listing presents two performances on the night, with seating available throughout. Gould’s work draws on story and song to explore vulnerability, strength, resilience, humor, and truth, making this a chance to hear her bandleading in a close-up club setting.
Originally from California, Gould moved to New York City in 2015 after earning a degree from Berklee College of Music. She has since performed across the city at Smalls Jazz Club, Ornithology, Mezzrow, The Jazz Gallery, Minton’s Playhouse, and Dizzy’s Club, while touring through Europe and Russia, including Sweden, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. Her albums include In Her Words (2021), Life’s a Gig (2024), and She’s Not Shiny, She’s Not Smooth (2024), each illuminating the interior world of women in jazz. A 2023 Jazz Gallery Composition Residency Commission expanded her work toward multi-movement pieces combining text, voice, and visual storytelling. The venue describes her music as honoring jazz tradition while moving it forward through imagination and depth.
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.