Cocomama - Women In Jazz - The Nash Jazz Club

Cocomama @cocomamamusic performed at The Nash Jazz Club @thenashjazz April 7, 2024.

Cocomama, is a virtual United Nations of women from around the globe who bring their salsa, soul, r&b, afro-cuban and latin-jazz influences to create a sound that is fierce and beautiful! This New York City based group has enchanted audiences at the United Nations, Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, jazz festivals across the country, and in Latin America as musical ambassadors for the US State Department.

On the evening:

  • Christelle Durandy - vocals @cdurandy

  • Ariacne Trujillo - vocals @ariacnetrujillo

  • Reut Regev - trombone @ reutregevtrombone

  • Nicki Denner - piano @nickidenner

  • Jennifer Vincent - bass @jennifer.vincent.9674

  • LaFrae Sci - drums

  • Mayra Casales - percussion @cocomamamayra

@cocomamamusic #cocomamamusic #salsa #soul #randb #afrocuban #latinjazz #jazz #thenashjazzclub #phoenix #arizona #jazzinphoenix #josephberg #jazzphotographer #jazzphotography #jazzmusicianportrait #musicphotographer #concertphotographer

Running From Bears at The Century Room

Running From Bears performs at The Century Room @thecenturyroom in Tucson, AZ May 19, 2023.

Running From Bears is one of the leading creative jazz ensembles in the Southwest. Formed in 2009, this eclectic Phoenix-based sextet is known for adventurous compositions, imaginative arrangements including live jazz mash-ups, and exhilarating improvisations.

On the evening:

  • Eric Rasmussen - alto saxophone @erassax

  • Adam Roberts - tenor saxophone @adam.roberts

  • Keith Kelly - tenor saxophone @a_grand_apparatus

  • Ray Lebert - guitar @raystaypaidnasty

  • Ben Hedquist - bass @ben.hedquist.bass

  • Ryan Anthony - drums @ryan.anthony.music

#runningfrombears #thecenturyroom #ericrasmussen #adamroberts #keithkelly #raylebert #benhedquist #ryananthony #tucson #arizona #jazz #jazzintucson #jazzmusicianportrait #josephberg #jazzphotographer #jazzphotography #thebestinarizona #concertphotographer #musicphotographer #jazzclub

Allison Miller Boom-Tic-Boom

Allison Miller's Boom-Tic-Boom performed at The Nash Jazz Club March 26, 2023.

NYC-based drummer/composer/teacher Allison Miller engages her deep roots in improvisation as a vehicle to explore all music. Described by critics as a Modern Jazz Icon in the making, Miller has been named “Top 20 Jazz Drummers” in Downbeat Magazine and her composition, Otis Was a Polar Bear, is on NPR’s list of The 200 Greatest Songs by 21st Century Women. Miller is Monterey Jazz Festival’s 2019 Artist in Residence, alongside bassist/producer Derrick Hodge. She is also the first recipient of the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation’s Commissioning Grant.

On the evening:

  • Allison Miller - drums @alliboomboom

  • Nicole Glover - sax @nicoleglovermusic

  • Shamie Royston - piano @stroyston

  • Ben Williams - bass @benwmsonbass

#womeninjazz #allisonmiller #nicoleglover #shamieroyston #benwilliams #jazz #thenashjazzclub #phoenix #arizona #phoenixjazzscene #jazzquartet #jazzmusicianportrait #jazzinphoenix #boomticboom

Jason Palmer at The Nash Jazz Club

Jason Palmer on trumpet with the Jason Palmer Quartet at The Nash Jazz Club @thenashjazz February 1, 2024.

Trumpeter, composer, educator Jason Palmer is one of the most in demand musicians of his generation. He has performed with Roy Haynes, Herbie Hancock, Jimmy Smith, Wynton Marsalis, The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Ravi Coltrane, Mark Turner, Jeff Ballard, Lee Konitz, Phil Woods, Common, Roy Hargrove and Lewis Nash.

In addition to performing on over forty albums as a sideman, Jason has recorded thirteen albums under his own name on labels Ayva, Steeplechase, Newvelle, and Giant Step Arts.

On the evening:

  • Jason Palmer - trumpet @pogo56

  • Michael Kocour - piano @mikekocour

  • Ben Hedquist - bass @ben.hedquist.bass

  • Robby Carrillo - drums @robbycarrillomusic

#jasonpalmer #mikekocour #benhedquist #robbycarrillo #thenashjazzclub #jazz #phoenix #arizona #phoenixjazzscene #jazzquartet #jazzmusicianportrait


Bill Charlap Solo Piano at The Century Room

Bill Charlap @billcharlapmusic presented a one-set-only solo piano show for a very grateful sold-out audience at The Century Room @thecenturyroom on November 11, 2023.

“Charlap approaches a song the way a lover approaches his beloved…when he sits down to play, the result is an embrace, an act of possession. The tune rises, falls, disappears and resurfaces in new forms as Charlap ranges over the keyboard with nimble, crisply swinging lines, subtly layered textures, dense chords and spiky interjections.” - TIME Magazine

Grammy Award winning pianist, Bill Charlap has performed and recorded with many leading artists of our time, ranging from jazz masters Phil Woods and Wynton Marsalis to singers Tony Bennett and Barbra Streisand. Since 1997, he has led the Bill Charlap Trio with bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington, recognized as one of the leading groups in jazz.

#billcharlap #piano #jazz #solopiano #thecenturyroom #tucson #arizona #tucsonjazzscene #jazzmusicianportrait #josephberg #jazzphotographer #arizonasbest

The Heavy Hitters at The Century Room

The Heavy Hitters returned to The Century Room @thecenturyroom for their 2nd appearance on December 7, 2023. The band presented compositions calling upon the timelessness of old Blue Note sounds. The Heavy Hitters are co-led by Mike LeDonne, New York-based bop pianist best known for his sideman work with Milt Jackson and Benny Golson. His partner in crime, Eric Alexander (himself a first-rate soloist working with Harold Mabern amongst others) was his quartet-mate on a well-received series of releases on the Venus label in the mid-2000’s.

The Heavy Hitters at The Century Room

LeDonne & Alexander were joined in this powerhouse ensemble by the fiery trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, alto saxophonist Vincent Herring, bassist Alexander Claffy and the sublime swing of drummer Kenny Washington. These world-renowned musicians are the epitome of New York jazz and are known for bringing the heat and taking no prisoners.

On the evening:

  • Mike LeDonne - piano @mikeledonne5

  • Jeremy Pelt - trumpet @jeremypeltthegriot

  • Vincent Herring - alto saxophone @vincent.herring

  • Eric Alexander - tenor saxophone @ericalexanderjazz

  • Alexander Claffy - bass @claffybass

  • Kenny Washington - drums @kwjazzdrums

#heavyhitters #theheavyhitters #mikeledonne #ericalexander #vincentherring #jeremypelt #alexanderclaffy #kennywashington #thecenturyroom #centuryroom #tucson #jazz #bop #hardbop #bebop #bluenote #bestconcertphotographerintucson #bestconcertphotographerinarizona #jazzportrait #sextet

Gibson Holt Nash Jam Session

Clark Gibson, Corcoran Holt and Lewis Nash performed November 21, 2023 at The Nash Jazz Club @thenashjazz for the Gibson Holt Nash Trio Jam Session.

Saxophonist Clark Gibson, bassist Corcoran Holt and drummer Lewis Nash joined forces to present a different kind of jam session for The Valley – Set #1 featured the the trio performing and Set #2 was open to musicians looking for an opportunity to sit in and play some jazz with a high level of experience and musicianship. Both sets delivered an evening of great jazz for the listeners.

On the evening:

  • Clark Gibson - Saxophone @clarkgibson30

  • Corcoran Holt - Bass @corcoranholt

  • Lewis Nash - Drums @lewisnashdrums

#clarkgibson #corcoranholt #lewisnash #thenashjazzclub #jamsession #jazzsaxophonist #jazzbassist #jazzdrummer #rooseveltrow #downtownphoenix #arizona #thebestmusicphotorapherphoenix #thebestjazzphotographerphoenix #jazzmusicianportrait #josephberg #jazzphotographer #jazzphotography

Something Else!

SOMETHING ELSE! at The Nash Jazz Club @thenashjazz 11th Anniversary October 14, 2023.

SOMETHING ELSE! a Soul Jazz Revue led by Vincent Herring, featuring some of the very best musicians today, played the most iconic toe-tapping Soul Jazz songs ever created. Something Else presented new arrangements and original compositions to an appreciative audience.

“…the band wears its hard-bop heart on its sleeve …It practically dares audiences to sit still and remain on their best behavior.” – Steve Futterman, The New Yorker

On the evening:

  • Vincent Herring - alto sax @vincent.herring

  • James Carter - tenor sax @jamescarterlive

  • Wallace Roney Jr - trumpet @wallaceroneyjr

  • Paul Bollenback - guitar @paul_bollenback

  • Dave Kikoski - piano @kayemode

  • Essiet Essiet - bass @essiet.essiet

  • Lewis Nash - drums @lewisnashdrums

#vincentherring #jamescarter #wallaceroneyjr #paulbollenback #davekikoski #essietessiet #lewisnash #thenashjazzclub #jazz #phoenix #arizona #rooseveltrow #downtownphoenix #jazzsaxophonist #jazztrumpeter #jazzguitarist #jazzbassist #jazzdrummer #josephberg #jazzphotographer #bestmusicphotographerinphoenix

Running From Bears

Running From Bears performed at The Nash Jazz Club @thenashjazz August 26, 2022.

Running From Bears is one of the leading creative jazz ensembles in the Southwest. Formed in 2009, this eclectic Phoenix-based sextet is known for adventurous compositions, imaginative arrangements including live jazz mash-ups, and exhilarating improvisations.

On the evening:

  • Eric Rasmussen @erasax - alto saxophone

  • Adam Roberts @adam.roberts - tenor/soprano sax

  • Keith Kelly @a_grand_apparatus - tenor/baritone sax

  • Ray Lebert @raystaypaidnasty - guitar

  • Ben Hedquist @ben.hedquist.bass - bass

  • Ryan Anthony @ryan.anthony.music - drums

#runningfrombears #ericrasmussen #adamroberts #keithkelly #raylebert #benhedquist #ryananthony #jazz #thenashjazzclub #phoenix #arizona #rooseveltrow #improvisation #josephberg #josephbergjazzphotographer #bestconcertphotographerinphoenix

Pasquale Grasso Trio

The Pasquale Grasso Trio performed at The Nash Jazz Club @thenashjazz September 17, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. The trio somehow translated the pianistic language of Bud Powell, Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, Thelonious Monk, and Barry Harris in such a complete and effective way.

"... He is easily the most significant new guy I’ve heard in many, many years.” – Pat Metheny

“Pasquale Grasso is one the greatest ever to pick up the guitar. The things he does on the instrument should not be possible; they seemed impossible before he did them and it’s doubtful anyone will be able to do them after!" – Peter Bernstein

“Pasquale Grasso is a marvel. To hear him is to cheer at a great accomplishment and it makes me happy to have the fortune to have heard what he plays on the guitar. Wonderful.” – Kurt Rosenwinkel

On the evening:

  • Pasquale Grasso @pasqualegrassomusic - Guitar

  • Ari Roloand @ - Bass

  • Keith Balla @ - Drums

#pasqualegrasso #ariroland #keithballa #jazz #thenashjazzclub #jazzguitarist #jazzbassist #jazzdrummer #jazztrio #josephbergjazzphotographer #bestconcertphotographerinphoenix #jazzmusicianportraits