Roxy Bar Presents: Pianist Michael Garin
Roxy Bar2 Avenue of the Americas, New York 10013
Michael Garin, Roxy Bar’s resident pianist, plays a solo evening set. His program deliberately blurs pianist and DJ, moving through an unlikely run of references that includes Shaggy, Om Kalthum, Rossini, Jobim, Zappa and Raymond Scott. The approach is playful as well as musically wide-ranging: Garin takes requests, invites children to play along, and may add self-deprecating stage business, including tap dancing from the piano bench. It is a post-work performance built around his continuing Roxy residency.
A longtime figure in New York City nightlife, Garin has worked at Elaine’s, the Monkey Bar, the Rainbow Room and Limelight’s VIP Room. He is a Drama Desk Award winner for co-creating and co-starring in Song of Singapore, described as an environmental musical, and he hosted midnight burlesque shows in the mid-1990s that helped launch the burlesque revival. His work has also included acting stints with Spike Lee and daily promotional poems in an Ogden Nash style. A pianist, songwriter, singer, poet, actor and song-and-dance performer, he has developed a practice that shifts with the room and occasion.
Roxy Bar offers a stylish setting where live jazz fills the air, accompanied by a menu that caters to diverse tastes including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. The room features plush seating and a well-stocked bar, creating a comfortable environment to enjoy performances by resident musicians or special guests. Shows typically run in the evening with sets from 6pm to 10pm, followed by DJs spinning vinyl late into the night. Weekend brunches also feature live music, blending dining and entertainment seamlessly. The venue balances attentive service with a relaxed vibe, making it a place to savor both cocktails and music without distraction. Its location in Tribeca adds a downtown charm, inviting guests to linger over oysters or a crafted cocktail while soaking in the sounds.