UT Jazz Faculty Feat. Lewis Nash

Fri, Apr 04

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for the UT Jazz Faculty feat. Lewish Nash! Diego Rivera - Saxophone, Musical Director Mike Sailors - Trumpet Paul Deemer - Trombone Bruce Saunders - Guitar Ross Margitza - Piano John Fremgen - Bass Lewis Nash - Drums Universally recognized as one of the great drummers in jazz history, Lewis Nash has built an illustrious career that now spans over four decades. One of jazz’s most recorded musicians, Nash has appeared on over 500 recordings, including 10 Grammy winners and numerous Grammy nominees. A native of Phoenix, Arizona, Lewis first gained international recognition as a member of vocalist Betty Carter’s trio. In the years to follow, Nash toured, recorded, and performed with many of jazz’s most celebrated icons, and his resume reads like a “who’s who” of jazz royalty, including Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, JJ Johnson, Sonny Rollins, Tommy Flanagan, Sonny Stitt, Clark Terry, Stan Getz, Benny Golson, Art Farmer, Gerry Mulligan, Hank Jones, Horace Silver, McCoy Tyner, Ray Brown, Milt Jackson, Jimmy Heath, Randy Weston, Cedar Walton, Ron Carter, Wynton and Branford Marsalis, and many, many more. In 2012, The Nash, a jazz education center and performance venue named in Lewis’s honor, was established in his home town of Phoenix. It has been a focal point of the city’s jazz activity since it’s inception, and has been named consistently by Downbeat magazine as a top jazz venue. In 2017, Nash joined the jazz studies faculty at Arizona State University, where he was named the Bob and Gretchen Ravenscroft Professor of Practice in Jazz. In early 2021, the Lewis Nash Scholarship Endowment was created by the university to be awarded annually to a deserving ASU undergraduate or graduate jazz performance student. The University of Texas Jazz Faculty Ensemble is a dynamic collective of world-class musicians and educators performing programs that span the full spectrum of jazz. Under the direction of Diego Rivera, Director of Jazz Studies at UT Austin, the ensemble showcases the exceptional talent and versatility of the university’s jazz faculty. Comprising seasoned professionals who are deeply committed to both performance and pedagogy, the ensemble performs a rich blend of original compositions, inventive arrangements, and timeless jazz standards. The ensemble offers a unique and vibrant sound, reflecting the individual voices of its accomplished members, each a respected performer and educator. While upholding the traditions of jazz, the group also pushes its boundaries, producing innovative music that exemplifies the excellence and forward-thinking spirit of the University of Texas jazz program. The ensemble’s performances are a testament to the faculty’s deep expertise, creative energy, and collaborative spirit. Each concert showcases the seamless intersection of artistry and education that defines the UT Austin jazz community. Regularly performing throughout the academic year, the University of Texas Jazz Faculty Ensemble remains a vital part of Austin’s rich cultural landscape, inspiring audiences with both technical brilliance and emotional depth. Please Note: This is a live-taping, so we'll be enforcing a whisper-policy! Cold bottles of still and sparkling water will be available for purchase, but this event is BYOB. Ice will be available if needed, wine keys and 9oz cups provided! 22 free parking spaces onsite are first-come-first-serve. First Show: Doors at 7:45pm, Show at 8pm. Second Show: Doors at 9:45pm, Show at 10pm.