ZOPA Welcomes Jenna Pascale’s Cello at Brooklyn Bowl

A Special Guest Appearance

“ZOPA had the pleasure of playing with the brilliant Jenna Pascale who joined us on cello for a few songs the other night at Brooklyn Bowl. This was a special one!” the band wrote on Instagram. Under the multicolored lights of Williamsburg’s favorite live-music spot, cellist Jenna Pascale slipped seamlessly into ZOPA’s blues-rock framework, adding haunting arco passages to fan favorites and newer tracks alike.

Bridging Rock And Classical

Michael Imperioli, best known for his Emmy-winning role on The Sopranos, has quietly built a parallel career as a musician. On Wikipedia, Imperioli is credited as lead singer and lyricist for ZOPA (an acronym for ZoPa), which released its self-titled debut in 2007 on Capitol Records and followed up with the EP The Look Out in 2017. The band has since played iconic New York venues from CBGB’s to the Bowery Ballroom, always exploring fresh collaborations.

Jenna Pascale, whose résumé includes chamber recitals and soundtrack sessions, brought her classical discipline to tracks like “Money in the Bank,” where cellistic counter-melodies rose above the chugging guitars. The interplay gave former Sopranos star Imperioli new sonic space to improvise, and the audience response—captured in Instagram Stories—was immediate and enthusiastic.

A Regular Run At Brooklyn Bowl

Brooklyn Bowl has hosted multiple ZOPA appearances this summer. On June 12, the band teamed with Gogol Bordello’s Eugene Hutz and hardcore legend Vinnie Stigma—a show promoted via Instagram as “Legendary night comin up!”—bringing punk, blues and Balkan energy under one roof. Just weeks later, the lineup pivoted from megaphone-shouting frontmen to the refined tones of a solo cello, proving ZOPA’s commitment to sonic adventure.

Photographs from the recent cello-infused set show Pascale seated front and center, bow aloft, as Imperioli and guitarist Elijah Amitin trade vocal stylings behind her. The image captures a moment of genuine musical conversation: strings, drums, bass and vocals weaving unexpected textures.

What’s Next For Zopa

While no formal tour dates with Jenna Pascale have been announced, insiders say the band is exploring further dates that could pair classical guests with their core rock lineup. Imperioli has mentioned in interviews his desire to push beyond the blues roots of early ZOPA records and incorporate orchestral instruments in live arrangements. This Brooklyn Bowl collaboration feels like a test run for even larger indie-orchestral experiments.

Backstage, Imperioli thanked Pascale in person and posted candid rehearsal clips to Instagram, celebrating what he called “one of the most inspiring nights we’ve had on stage.” Fans have already suggested bringing violins, woodwinds and brass into future sets, and ZOPA appears keen to oblige.

Always An Unexpected Turn

From Sopranos screenings on the East Coast to intimate chamber-inflected rock shows, Michael Imperioli continues to surprise fans on and off camera. Whether sharing the bill with punk royalty or spotlighting a solo cellist, ZOPA is proving that its roots run deeper than a standard blues-rock trio.

With solid gold tunes, a rock veteran at the mic, and fresh classical voices joining the fray, ZOPA’s Brooklyn Bowl evening with Jenna Pascale underscored one truth: when good songs meet great players, genre lines dissolve and memorable music happens.

Trivia

Michael Imperioli was born on March 26, 1976, in Mount Vernon, New York, USA.

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Poulami Nag

 

Poulami is an associate editor. She did her MA in English from Miranda House, University of Delhi and has qualified UGC-NET. She also holds a PG diploma in Editing and Publishing from Jadavpur University. Her journey as a content writer began in 2017 and since then, Poulami has garnered diverse interests along the way.

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