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Lewis Nash
Rhythm Is My Business" is the title of his debut recording as a leader, and rhythm is a booming business as far as Lewis Nash is concerned. He is the drummer of choice for an incredible array of artists - from the masters of the music to the hottest young players of today - and is equally in demand as a clinician and educator.
Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Lewis developed an early interest in music and began playing drums at age 10. By age 18, he was performing with local jazz groups. By the time he was 21, Nash had become the "first call" jazz drummer in Phoenix, working with Sonny Stitt, Art Pepper, Red Garland, Lee Konitz, Barney Kessell and Slide Hampton during their engagements in the city.
In 1981, Nash moved to New York City and joined the trio of the great jazz vocalist Betty Carter. For nearly four years, he toured internationally with Ms. Carter. He is featured on three of her recordings, including the Grammy winning "Look What I Got."
World-renowned bassist Ron Carter hired Nash in 1984. As a member Carter´s nonet, quintet and quartet, Nash toured extensively and is featured on several of the bassist´s recordings.
In the fall of 1986, saxophonist Branford Marsalis asked Lewis to join his quartet. That active association spanned two years and several continents, and is documented on Marsalis´ Grammy nominated recording "Random Abstract", as well as two videos: Royal Garden Blues (directed by Spike Lee) and "Branford Marsalis - Steep".
1988 marked the return to the jazz scene of trombone master J.J. Johnson. Johnson frequently asked Lewis to provide rhythm duties for his band. That same year, Nash joined the Don Pullen/George Adams quartet, succeeding the late Dannie Richmond. 1989 proved to be an even busier year for Lewis, touring with legendary saxophonist Sonny Rollins. He also performed with Stan Getz, Art Farmer, Clark Terry and Milt Jackson.
From 1990 to 2000, Lewis was a member of the Tommy Flanagan Trio, and is featured on seven CD recordings with the late piano master. During this period, Nash also toured and recorded with both the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. His impressive discography (over 300 recordings) includes projects with jazz legends Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Peterson, Benny Carter, Hank Jones and John Lewis, as well as new jazz stars Diana Krall, Joe Lovano and Roy Hargrove. Demonstrating his stylistic diversity, Nash is also featured on recordings by Natalie Cole, Bette Midler, Nancy Wilson, Kenny Rankin, Melissa Manchester and George Michael.
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Noah Haidu: Standards III
by Jack Bowers
Standards III, the ninth album by New York-based pianist Noah Haidu, is essentially a trio date with a guest appearance on one number ("Slipstream") by alto saxophonist Steve Wilson. As was true on Standards (Sunnyside, 2021) and Standards II (Sunnyside, 2024), the inclusion of several unfamiliar themes (including some by Haidu) stretches the meaning of “standard" well beyond what most listeners would consider acceptable. To be fair, there are a liberal number of standards on all three ...
Continue ReadingNoah Haidu: Standards III
by Pierre Giroux
Noah Haidu's Standards III is a study in jazz fluency--an exploration of melody, form, and interplay that reanimates familiar repertoire with both reverence and daring. Following the strong creative thread laid in the first two installments of the standards theme (Standards, 2023 and Standards II, 2024; both on Sunnyside), Haidu again enlists legendary bassist Buster Williams and veteran drummer Billy Hart, whose intuitive communication with the pianist borders on telepathic. Joining this outing is a younger trio, featuring bassist Gervis ...
Continue ReadingJordan VanHemert: Survival of the Fittest
by Gary Fukushima
For most of his life, Jordan VanHemert has been on a quest of growth and mastery as a saxophonist, composer and musician. But equally important have been his efforts to contextualize some of the difficulties of his life experiences within the deeper themes of his DNA, discovering in the process resilience, optimism and joy. Jordan's music is meant to convey empathy and solidarity to others who have also faced challenges in their lives. This album, Jordan's fifth as a leader, ...
Continue ReadingJordan VanHemert: Survival of the Fittest
by Jack Bowers
Although the title of saxophonist Jordan VanHemert's fifth album, Survival of the Fittest, may elicit images of a crash course in self-defense, that is not at all what he had in mind. The music is thematic, he says, and represents the twin lodestars of adversity and resilience. Even that, however, becomes largely irrelevant once VanHemert and his supporting cast launch what is at its heart a narrative of contemporary post-bop jazz. It is a cast that varies in ...
Continue ReadingJordan VanHemert: Deep in the Soil
by Jack Bowers
Energy and enthusiasm fairly leap from the speakers--or headphones--on Sharel Cassity's daring “Call to Order," the opening number on Korean-born saxophonist Jordan VanHemert's fifth album as leader, Deep in the Soil. Alas, that same ardor doesn't reappear until track seven (of eight), trombonist Michael Dease's boppish “ST in the House." In between, VanHemert and his companions (group sizes vary from sextet to duo) offer some agreeable music but nothing that approaches the ebullience or cogency of the themes already named. ...
Continue ReadingNick Finzer: Legacy
by Pierre Giroux
In the realm of jazz, the legacy of J.J. Johnson looms large and immutable, casting an indelible shadow over the trombone's narrative. It is with reverence and a touch of audacity that trombonist Nick Finzer undertakes the task of honoring this titan with his album Legacy a centennial celebration of JJ Johnson. Joined by a stellar ensemble featuring Renee Rosnes, who served as the pianist in Johnson's quintet from 1989 to 1997, bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Lewis Nash, Finzer ...
Continue ReadingJordan VanHemert: Deep in the Soil
by C. Andrew Hovan
Born in Korea and raised in Michigan, Jordan VanHemert counts himself among those youngsters that got involved in his school music program by starting out on the alto saxophone. Also like many of his fellow saxophonists, VanHemert eventually moved away from the smaller horn to devote his full energies to the tenor sax, an instrument emblematic of the jazz heritage. “In my formative years, I was almost exclusively an alto saxophonist," VanHemert explained from his current home base in Oklahoma. ...
Continue ReadingJazz Musician of the Day: Lewis Nash
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Lewis Nash's birthday today!
Rhythm Is My Business" is the title of his debut recording as a leader, and rhythm is a booming business as far as Lewis Nash is concerned. He is the drummer of choice for an incredible array of artists- from the masters of the music to the hottest young players of today- and is equally in demand as a clinician and educator. Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Lewis developed an early interest ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Lewis Nash
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Lewis Nash's birthday today!
Rhythm Is My Business" is the title of his debut recording as a leader, and rhythm is a booming business as far as Lewis Nash is concerned. He is the drummer of choice for an incredible array of artists- from the masters of the music to the hottest young players of today- and is equally in demand as a clinician and educator. Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Lewis developed an early interest ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Lewis Nash
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Lewis Nash's birthday today!
Rhythm Is My Business" is the title of his debut recording as a leader, and rhythm is a booming business as far as Lewis Nash is concerned. He is the drummer of choice for an incredible array of artists- from the masters of the music to the hottest young players of today- and is equally in demand as a clinician and educator. Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Lewis developed an early interest ...
read more
The Nash Announces The Creation Of The Mary Bishop Perret Jazz Education Fund
Source:
All About Jazz
In honor of her long-standing love and support of young jazz artists, The Nash announces the establishment of The Mary Bishop Perret Jazz Education Fund. Donations made to the fund will directly support The Nash programs for youth, including Phoenix Jazz Girls, The Nash Legacy Ensemble and The Nash Futures, providing scholarships for young musicians who want to learn and play jazz. Contributions can be made by cash, check or online. A “Yeah” for Mary Bishop's Legacy by Jana Bommersbach ...
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Jazz Musician of the Day: Lewis Nash
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Lewis Nash's birthday today!
Rhythm Is My Business" is the title of his debut recording as a leader, and rhythm is a booming business as far as Lewis Nash is concerned. He is the drummer of choice for an incredible array of artists- from the masters of the music to the hottest young players of today- and is equally in demand as a clinician and educator. Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Lewis developed an early interest ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Lewis Nash
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Lewis Nash's birthday today!
Rhythm Is My Business" is the title of his debut recording as a leader, and rhythm is a booming business as far as Lewis Nash is concerned. He is the drummer of choice for an incredible array of artists- from the masters of the music to the hottest young players of today- and is equally in demand as a clinician and educator. Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Lewis developed an early interest ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Lewis Nash
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Lewis Nash's birthday today!
Rhythm Is My Business" is the title of his debut recording as a leader, and rhythm is a booming business as far as Lewis Nash is concerned. He is the drummer of choice for an incredible array of artists- from the masters of the music to the hottest young players of today- and is equally in demand as a clinician and educator. Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Lewis developed an early interest ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Lewis Nash
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Lewis Nash's birthday today!
Rhythm Is My Business" is the title of his debut recording as a leader, and rhythm is a booming business as far as Lewis Nash is concerned. He is the drummer of choice for an incredible array of artists- from the masters of the music to the hottest young players of today- and is equally in demand as a clinician and educator. Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Lewis developed an early interest ...
read more
Music Education Monday: Jazz drumming tips from Lewis Nash
Source:
St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
Today for Music Education Monday, you can pick up some tips on jazz drumming via a handful of videos recorded by the veteran percussionist Lewis Nash. Nash, who's 57 and originally from Phoenix, has made five recordings as a bandleader, but he's best known as a sideman to some of today's top jazz musicians, with more than 400 recordings to his credit. He got his first big break in his early 20s playing with singer Betty Carter, and subsequently has ...
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Jazz Musician of the Day: Lewis Nash
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Lewis Nash's birthday today!
Rhythm Is My Business" is the title of his debut recording as a leader, and rhythm is a booming business as far as Lewis Nash is concerned. He is the drummer of choice for an incredible array of artists- from the masters of the music to the hottest young players of today- and is equally in demand as a clinician and educator. Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Lewis developed an early interest ...
read more
"In Lewis Nash's drum patterns there was such acute attention to timbre and melodic grace that at times he sounded more as if he were playing composed lines on a vibraphone..." —Ben Ratliff, New York Times
Photos
Music
Pharoah's Dance
From: Split DecisionBy Lewis Nash
Here and Now
From: Survival of the FittestBy Lewis Nash
Call to Order
From: Deep in the SoilBy Lewis Nash
Beautiful Friendship
From: StandardsBy Lewis Nash
Cinque + Narration 2 (Part 1)
From: CinqueBy Lewis Nash
Tango Doblado (Bent Tango)
From: Southern ExposureBy Lewis Nash
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