Photo: Kate Walter of Eve Zanni Quartet in the Westbeth courtyard. lr: John Simon, sax; Eve Zanni, vocals; Mark Hagan, bass; Issac Raz, keyboards.

Village Star-Revue
April 2026

Link: https://villagestar-revue.com/first-fridays-at-westbeth/
Last December I was sitting in an intimate space with great acoustics, listening to the John Eckert Quartet. The veteran trumpet player led a swinging group with a guest singer, Pete Caldera, who channeled Frank Sinatra. No, I wasn’t at Mezzrow. I was at the Westbeth community room attending a show in the First Fridays concert series, where a Westbeth musical artist and guests perform on the first Friday of every month at 7 p.m.

Sponsored by the Westbeth Artists Residents Council and Westbeth Music Works and curated by jazz vocalist and Westbeth resident, Eve Zanni, this series is open to the public and free.

I never miss this event unless I’m away. I get to hear top-notch musicians who play in big venues like Joe’s Pub.

First Fridays started in 2023 evolved from a concert series called Summer Soundwaves that Zanni produced in the Westbeth courtyard during the summers of 2022 and 2023. “We were coming out of the pandemic and I proposed a series of outdoor concerts to uplift the community,” Zanni said. “It was the opening of a new dawn for music at Westbeth.”

Summer Soundwaves was a big success, featuring artists such as the jazz guitarist Peter Bernstein, a regular at the Village Vanguard and Blue Note. For two summers, I sat outside with my neighbors listening to great music. Now I get to do this once a month during all four seasons.

The well-attended First Fridays showcases a variety of music: rock, blues, jazz, gospel, traditional folk, classical, world music, cabaret, and live dance party that gets people on the floor. Among the highlights over the years were the harmonic trio BETTY and the jazz singers Alexis Cole and Sarah King.

Rehearsal space with shows
“My mission is to promote and revitalize music at Westbeth,” said Zanni, “I want to promote Westbeth musicians and for them to have their own space for rehearsals and performances.” Her dedication to helping other musicians springs from her artistic role as a singer/songwriter/educator.

Zanni’s work as a curator is totally volunteer. She recruits artists to perform by putting out notices and sending emails. She approaches all new musicians who have moved into the building. Recent arrivals Veronica Parrales (cello) and Jason Mathena (percussion), a married couple, gave the February concert, playing solos and duets.

First Fridays is produced and funded by the Westbeth Artists Residents Council. Zanni submits a proposal directly to the Residents Council, which provides infrastructure and advertising support. The musicians handle the setup, refreshments, breakdown, and the performance. And they receive a stipend.

Whenever Zanni introduces a show, she mentions the history of the building. The famous arranger Gil Evans lived and worked in Westbeth. Westbeth Artists Housing was created in the former home of Bell Labs.

“[It] is not lost on me that Bell Labs is where the amplifier and the microphone were created,” she said. “I’m dedicated to enhancing Westbeth’s long standing reputation as a place for sound innovation and for creative music making.”

As a piano tuner and technician for 40 years, Zanni is sensitive to the acoustics of a room. “The Westbeth community room is a live room with warmth. It’s actually the ideal room for acoustic and gently amplified music. All instruments seem to read really well including voices.” she said.

Career as producer
Zanni’s experience in producing musical events started before her arrival in Westbeth. She spent over 10 years curating programs for the jazz ministry at Saint Peter’s Church, including their annual Lester Young Memorial Celebration.

After she moved to Westbeth in 2005, she co-produced 10 three-day music festivals in the Westbeth courtyard from 2005-2015.

Her long history of curating music at Westbeth led the way to First Fridays.

The artists who appear seem to enjoy the show as much as the audience

“Performing at First Fridays is always a joy,” said Val Hawk, singer/songwriter, who delivered a set of catchy and quirky original songs on March 6. Hawk is a story teller, writing about her family and relationships. “Codependence” is a twisted love song and “Same Old Nightmare” is a funny, relatable tune about recurring dreams. “Baby Blue Chevrolet” recalls her childhood when her mother was a singer in Miami and “Wake Up Smiling” is a love song for her daughter, also a singer. “Walking the Moon” (her dog) describes her friendship with Denise, the late-night security guard at Westbeth, a character familiar to the audience.

“The beautiful community room, with its concert grand piano, great sound system, and fully operational kitchen is a testament to Westbeth’s commitment to supporting artists,” said Hawk. “Eve Zanni has done a marvelous job. I’m happy to have joined her as co-curator for the 2026 season.”

Barry Temkin and the Barry Tones will appear on Friday May 1. Led by guitarist Barry Temkin, the Barry Tones are a dance band playing rockabilly, blues, rock, country music, originals and classic favorites.

Photo above by Kate Walter: Eve Zanni Quartet in the Westbeth courtyard. Left to right: John Simon, sax; Eve Zanni, vocals; Mark Hagan, bass; Issac Raz, keyboards.