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

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

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

inkblot at The Womack

inkblot performed at The Womack @thewomackaz August 23, 2023 . Original jazz fusion music live from Phoenix, Arizona.

On the evening:

  • Adam Armijo @mr_mijoman - guitar

  • Dylan P Thomas @dylanpthomas - bass

  • Connor Sample @connor_sample - drums

#inkblot #inkblotmusic #adamarmijo #dylanpthomas #connorsample #thewomack #thewomackaz #jazz #jazzfusion #phoenix #arizona #phoenixmusicscene #josephberg #jazzphotographer #bestconcertphotographerinphoenix #jazzguitarist #jazzbassist #jazzdrummer

Francine Reed at The Nash Jazz Club

Francine Reed performs at The Nash Jazz Club March 6, 2022. Reed has appeared with Miles Davis, Stanley Jordan, Smokey Robinson, Etta James, and The Crusaders. In 1985, she began recording and touring with Lyle Lovett and His Large Band. Reed has also appeared on recordings by Delbert McClinton, Willie Nelson and Roy Orbison. After she relocated to Georgia in the 1990s, she released her first solo album, I Want You to Love Me. Reed has received the W. C. Handy Artist of the Year and Song of the Year nominations. Reed was inducted into the Arizona Blues Hall of Fame in 1997.

On the evening:

  • Francine Reed - Vocals

  • Piano - Joel Robin Goldenthal - @joelrgoldenthal

  • Stan Sorenson - Guitar

  • Andy Gonzales - Bass

  • Dowell Davis - Drums

#francinereed #blues #bluesmusic #thenash #thenashjazzclub #joelgoldenthal #stansorenson #andygonzales #dowelldavis #livemusic #lylelovett #phoenix #arizona #josephberg #jazzphotography #jazzphotographer

Joe Lovano Duo with Lewis Nash and Special Guest Vincent Thiefain

Grammy-winning saxophonist, composer and arranger Joe Lovano performed at The Nash Jazz Club April 3, 2022 with Lewis Nash on drums as a duo and special guest Vincent Thiefain on the bass. Beat magazine has twice named Lovano Jazz Artist of the Year, and he has scored a trifecta with nominations for Musician of the Year, Improviser of the Year, and Best Tenor Saxophonist in the New York Jazz Awards.

On the evening:

  • Joe Lovano - Saxophone - @joelovanojazz

  • Vincent Tiefain - Bass - @vincentthiefain

  • Lewis Nash - Drums - @lewisnashdrums

#joelovano #vincentthiefain #lewisnash #jazztrio #jazzduo #thenashjazzclub #jazz #phoenix #arizona #downtownphoenix #josephberg #jazzphotographer #avantgarde #bebop #bop #hardbop #jazzsaxophonist #newyorkcity

Running From Bears at The Lost Leaf

Running From Bears performs at The Lost Leaf Phoenix - March 14, 2022. Running From Bears is one of the leading creative jazz ensembles in the Southwest. Formed in 2009, this eclectic Phoenix-based group is known for adventurous compositions, imaginative arrangements including live jazz mash-ups, and exhilarating improvisations. Featured on the evening:

  • Keith B. Kelly - Tenor Saxophone - @a_grand_apparatus

  • Eric Rasmussen - Alto Saxophone - @erasax

  • Ben Hedquist - Bass - @ben.hedquist.bass

  • Ryan Anthony - Drums - @ryan.anthony.music

#Thelostleaf #lostleaf #runningfrombears #keithkelly #ericrasmussen #benhedquist #ryananthony #improvisation #avantgarde #jazz #jazzphotographer #josephberg #phoenix #arizona

Dmitri Matheny Group at The Ravenscroft

The Dmitri Matheny Group performs in the Jazzbird Lounge at The Ravenscroft. Celebrated for his warm tone, soaring lyricism and masterful technique, American musician Dmitri Matheny has been lauded as “one of the most emotionally expressive improvisers of his generation” (International Review of Music). Born on Christmas Day, 1965 in in Nashville,Tennessee, Dmitri was raised in Georgia and Arizona. Attracted to his father’s collection of jazz and classical LP records, Dmitri began piano lessons at age 5, switched to the trumpet at age 9, and took up the flugelhorn at 18. Matheny attended the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, then the Berklee College of Music, Boston, graduating magna cum laude in 1989. After private studies with Carmine Caruso in New York City, Matheny became the protégé of the legendary Art Farmer, a formative relationship that lasted over a decade. 

On the evening:

  • Dmitri Matheny - Flugelhorn - @dmitrimatheny

  • Brice Winston - Tenor Saxophone - @bricewinston

  • Lamar Gaines - Piano - @lgmusic

  • Chris Finet - Bass -

  • Pete Swan - Drums - @pete_swan_jazz

  • Jazzbird Lounge - Venue - @ravenscroftaz

#theravenscroft #ravenscroft #jazzbird #jazzbirdlounge #dmitrimatheny #bricewinston #lamargaines #chrisfinet #peteswan #scottsdale #arizona