Nick Finzer - J.J. Johnson Centennial at The Nash Jazz Club

The Nick Finzer - J.J. Johnson Centennial Celebration at The Nash Jazz Club @thenashjazz April 13, 2024.

The audience immersed itself in an extraordinary concert experience that brought to life the musical legacy of the legendary J.J. Johnson. It was a heartfelt tribute to one of Finzer’s musical heroes. J.J. Johnson, a trailblazer on the trombone, revolutionized the instrument much like Charlie Parker did for the saxophone. His ability to seamlessly translate the clarity, precision, and velocity of bebop onto the trombone, while maintaining a distinctive sound, is unparalleled. Drawing inspiration from J.J.’s vast catalog, the group explored new musical territories while paying homage to the jazz classics associated with J.J. Johnson's name.

On the evening:

  • Nick Finzer - trombone @nickfinzer

  • Renee Rosnes - piano @reneerosnes

  • Rufus Reid - bass @reid_rufus

  • Lewis Nash - drums @lewisnashdrums

#thenashjazzclub #nickfinzer #reneerosnes #rufusreid #lewisnash #jjjohnson #trombone #jazz #jazzclub #phoenix #arizona #jazzinphoenix #rooseveltrow #thebestinphoenix #josephberg #jazzphotographer #jazzphotography #concertphotographer #musicphotographer #jazzmusicianportrait #mymusicscene

Noah Haidu Buster Williams Lenny White at The Century Room

Noah Haidu, Buster Williams and Lenny White performed at The Century Room @thecenturyroom July 1, 2023.

Pianist Noah Haidu has arrived as an important new voice in jazz who combines modernism, soul, and swing into his own unique approach. Recently the national media has focused on Noah as a force to be reckoned with: The Wall Street Journal singled out Haidu for a major write-up stating that “by now he has his own unique approach…sounding buoyant and and free like a pent up spirit released.”

Buster Williams has played, recorded and collaborated with jazz giants such as Art Blakey, Betty Carter, Carmen McRae, Chet Baker, Chick Corea, Dexter Gordon, Jimmy Heath, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, and Herbie Hancock to name just a few.

Lenny White is still best-known for being part of Chick Corea's Return To Forever in the 1970's. He largely started his career on top, playing regularly with Jackie McLean (1968) and recording "Bitches Brew" with Miles Davis in 1969.

On the evening:

  • Noah Haidu - piano @noahhaidu

  • Buster Williams - bass @busterwilliamsofficial

  • Lenny White - drums @lennywhitemusic

#thecenturyroom #noahhaidu #busterwilliams #lennywhite #jazzclub #jazzpianist #jazzbassist #jazzdrummer #tucson #arizona #jazzintucson #thebestinarizona #josephberg #jazzphotography #jazzphotographer #jazzmusicianportrait #concertphotographer #musicphotographer #blackandwhite #jazzimage

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

Ben Wendel at The Century Room

Ben Wendel and the Ben Wendel Group performed at The Century Room October 13, 2023.

Grammy nominated saxophonist Ben Wendel was born in Vancouver, Canada and raised in Los Angeles. Currently living in Brooklyn, NY, he has enjoyed a varied career as a performer, composer and producer. Highlights include tours, performances and/or recordings with artists such as Tigran Hamasyan, Antonio Sanchez, Gerald Clayton, Eric Harland, Taylor Eigsti, Linda May Han Oh, Moonchild, Louis Cole, Daedelus, Snoop Dogg and the artist formerly known as Prince. Ben is a founding member of the Grammy nominated group Kneebody.

On the evening:

  • Ben Wendel - saxophone

  • Taylor Eigsti - piano

  • Or Barequette - bass

  • Jonathan Pinson - drums

As a composer, he has received an ASCAP Jazz Composer Award, the 2008, 2011 and 2017 Chamber Music America “New Works Grant” and was awarded the Victor Lynch-Staunton award by the Canada Council For The Arts. He also co-wrote the score for John Krasinski's adaptation of David Foster Wallace’s "Brief Interviews With Hideous Men."

@benwendel @tayloreigsti @orbareket @jonathanpinson @thecenturyroom #benwendel #tayloreigsti #orbareket #jonathanpinson #thecenturyroom #tucson #arizona #jazzintucson #jazzmusicianportrait #josephberg #jazzphotographer #jazzphotography #concertphotographer #concertphotography

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


Eric Rasmussen Quartet at Valley Bar

Eric Rasmussen and the Eric Rasmussen Quartet performed at Valley Bar @valleybarphx September 5, 2023.

Saxophonist/Composer Eric Rasmussen relocated to the Valley Of The Sun in the summer of 2007. The California native spent the prior ten years playing and teaching in New York City where he was a staple of the jazz community, performing regularly on the east coast as well as throughout Europe. While in New York, he performed regularly with some of the most respected names in jazz and was the Director of Jazz Studies at the Center for Preparatory Studies in Music at Queens College. With his own groups, Eric has recorded for internationally acclaimed jazz labels Steeplechase and Fresh Sound Records. He has played at some of the most prestigious venues in the country including the Kennedy Center and a 2007 performance with the Lee Konitz Big Band as part of the JVC Jazz Festival at Carnegie Hall. Currently, Eric is the Director of Instrumental Music at Scottsdale Community College.

On the evening:

  • Eric Rasmussen - alto saxophone @erassax

  • Vince Kaufmann - tenor saxophone

  • Bailey Zick - bass @bailey__zick

  • Connor Sample - drums @connor_sample

#ericrasmussen #vincekaufmann #baileyzick #connorsample #valleybar #jazz #jazzquartet #saxophone #downtownphoenix #arizona #phoenixjazzscene #josephberg #jazzphotographer #arizonasbest #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