The Nash Brings Top Jazz Artists 2/8-12

Music lovers in the Valley will have the opportunity to experience the charisma and artistry of three significant artists as the live jazz club hosts Emmet Cohen Trio on Feb 8th, the extraordinary saxophonist Cory Weeds with legendary pianist Harold Mabern on February 11th and the ever-charismatic Francine Reed on Feb 12th. All performances are expected to sell out.

The Nash has just been named to Downbeat Magazine's 2017 List of Great Jazz Venues in the World. This follows the recent designation of Phoenix as one of four "jazz hubs" in the U.S., due in large part to the warm, enriching environment for jazz performers and audiences at The Nash.

The Nash is located on Roosevelt Row at 110 Roosevelt St on the corner of 1st St and Roosevelt. Tickets for these special engagements as well as concerts and jam sessions during the rest of the month are on sale now at www.thenash.org or by calling 602-795-0464.

February 8:
EMMET COHEN TRIO
@ The Nash
7:30 PM

The Nash
110 E. Roosevelt Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Tickets: $25 adults/$13 students
www.thenash.org or 602-795-0464

First time in Phoenix!
Direct from New York City and touring world-wide, charismatic pianist Emmet Cohen makes his first appearance in Arizona at The Nash along with his trio. Downbeat praised the "nimble touch, measured stride and warm harmonic vocabulary" he employs to communicate with other musicians and audiences at what he terms "the deepest level of humanity and individuality." Cohen plays with the command and passion of an artist fully devoted to his medium. Leader of the "Emmet Cohen Trio," Cohen presents jazz performance lectures through the Young Arts Foundation and Lincoln Center's "Jazz for Young People" program. He has appeared at many famous music venues, including Rose Hall and the Kennedy Center as well as legendary international nightspots, such as Birdland, the Blue Note, Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, Jazzhaus Montmartre, and Ronnie Scott's.

He is Hammond B-3 organist-in-residence at Harlem's Smoke jazz club. A Suzuki piano student at age three, Cohen holds jazz piano degrees from the Manhattan School of Music (M.M.) and the University of Miami (B.M.). He was finalist in both the American Pianists Association's Cole Porter Fellowship (2015, 2011) and the Thelonious Monk International Piano Competition (2011). Cohen has performed or collaborated with Debbie Allen, Jimmy Cobb, Lea DeLaria, Kurt Elling, Billy Hart, Jimmy Heath, Ali Jackson, Bill T. Jones, Brian Lynch, Christian McBride, and Herlin Riley.

February 11:
THE CORY WEEDS QUINTET
FEATURING HAROLD MABERN
@ The Nash
7:30 PM

The Nash
110 E. Roosevelt Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Tickets: $30-$75
www.thenash.org or 602-795-0464

Top Canadian saxophonist and Cellar Jazz Record producer Cory Weeds brings his awesome quintet to The Nash, featuring one of the greatest living pianists in jazz, Harold Mabern. This show will be hot, boppin', melodic and historic - a mainstream jazz-lover's dream!

Cory Weeds, a tenor saxophonist with an expressive sound rooted in Jazz tradition, may be best known as the founder and owner of Cory Weeds' Cellar Jazz Club in Vancouver, which he successfully ran for more than 13 years. As a saxophonist, Weeds spent many nights on the Cellar bandstand as a leader and sideman, performing with icons like Joey DeFrancesco and Christian McBride. Weeds has recorded eight albums as a leader. While the Cellar is now a happy memory, the record label Weeds established in 2001, Cellar Live, is alive and well with close to 100 recordings and many more releases planned. In addition to playing on numerous sessions, Weeds has also served as producer on more than 80 recordings. Weeds has also worked as an educator, leading the BC Music Educators Association's Honour Ensemble. He has also been a Jazz disc jockey on Vancouver Co-Op Radio.

Harold Mabern, one of jazz's most enduring and dazzlingly skilled pianists, was born in Memphis, a citythat produced saxophonists George Coleman and Charles Lloyd, pianist Phineas Newborn Jr. and trumpeter Booker Little.
He was an unsung hero of the 1960s hardbop scene, performing and recording with many of its finest artists, and only in recent years has he begun to garner appreciation for his long-running legacy in jazz and the understated power of his talent; as critic Gary Giddins has written, "With the wind at his back, he can sound like an ocean roar."

February 12: FRANCINE REED

Jazz Matinee @ The Nash
3:00 PM

The Nash
110 E. Roosevelt Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Tickets: $25 adults/$20 seniors/$15 students
www.thenash.org or 602-795-0464

From the mid-1970s through the early 90s, Francine reigned as the most popular jazz and blues vocalist in the Valley. In fact, she was still winning New Times/Best of Phoenix awards after she moved to Atlanta! Francine appeared with her bands Jazz Alive and Fever at venues such as The Boojum Tree, Chuy's and Chuy's Next Door/The Night Club, Churchill's Pub and Bombay Bicycle Club, plus numerous festivals and concert halls. She has been part of Lyle Lovett's Large Band since the mid 80's, appeared on The Tonight Show, and appeared for many seasons in Seattle's high-energy dinner-theatre cabaret, Teatro ZinZanni. What an amazingly diverse and exciting career!

About The Nash
Recognized by Downbeat Magazine as one of the top jazz venues in the world, The Nash is named for "the most valuable player" in jazz (Modern Drummer Magazine), Phoenix native Lewis Nash.

Located in the heart of downtown Phoenix on "Roosevelt Row, The Nash brings a full calendar of live performances and ensures the future of the iconic art of jazz through its educational and outreach programs.

The Nash hosts classic jazz and new music concerts; performances by student musicians, local pros and touring artists; weekly jazz jam sessions; workshops; master classes; and clinics. Educational programs are offered ranging from one-on-one private lessons to combo labs, guided listening, jazz in film, jazz camps and more.

About Lewis Nash
Internationally acclaimed jazz drummer Lewis Nash, named the most valuable player in jazz by Modern Drummer Magazine, was described by Ira Gitler of The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz as "Perhaps the most talented drummer of his generation." Lewis grew up in south Phoenix and by the early age of 10 years old began playing drums. At age 21 he moved to New York City, where he became the drummer of choice for an incredible array of artists - from jazz masters to the hottest young players of today. His 30-year career includes performance on 10 Grammy award-winning albums and an impressive discography of over 400 recordings with jazz legends such as BetTy Carter, Tommy Flanagan, Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Peterson, McCoy Tyner, Hank Jones, Joe Henderson, Sonny Rollins, Ron Carter and Clark Terry, as well as such contemporary jazz artists as Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Diana Krall, Joe Lovano and Roy Hargrove.

A highly respected educator and clinician, Lewis joined the faculty of the ASU School of Music in January 2017 as the Bob and Gretchen Ravenscroft Professor of Practice in Jazz.ny Rankin, Melissa Manchester and George Michael.

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