Stepping onto the stage at The Bitter End, the weight of history is almost palpable. This isn't just any venue; it's a cornerstone of New York City's vibrant musical tapestry, a place where legends were born and where the spirits of musical greats still seem to linger in every corner.

The floor creaks beneath my feet, each sound a testament to the countless artists who've graced this space. The dim lighting casts an amber glow and as I breathe in, I can almost taste the smoky blend of old stories, new dreams, and the deep-rooted passion for music that permeates the air.

When I play at The Bitter End, it feels like a communion with the past, a nod to the greats who paved the way, while also forging ahead with fresh improvisations and novel stories to tell. Every note, every chord, reverberates with a unique energy, feeding off the club's storied past and the eager anticipation of the audience.

In this intimate setting, there's no distance between the performer and the listener. Each song becomes a shared journey, an interplay of emotions that transcends time. The walls of The Bitter End have absorbed decades of musical evolution, and to be a part of that lineage is both humbling and electrifying.

Here, in the heart of Greenwich Village music is a living, breathing entity. And every time I perform at The Bitter End, I'm reminded of why I fell in love with jazz in the first place: it's raw, it's real, and it's forever evolving.

The video above is from “Heaven & Hell” on PBS’s “Sessions At 54th” series.  This particular performance kicked off a year-long worldwide "Heaven and Hell" tour.

Touring with Joe Jackson is a dream!  His astonishing song cycle for this tour, based on the 7 Deadly Sins, tapped into all my different musical skills more comprehensively than any other work I’d done previously or since. My classical chops were required on this complicated and difficult score, but equally as important were my rock 'n' roll skills. It was always uplifting and an honor every night, to sing and play the gorgeous score. The common thread throughout this tour, was the power of Joe’s musical vision which communicated to a wide variety of fans worldwide an emotional experience of artistry at its finest.