Bobby Watson Quartet with Lewis Nash and More to Play The Nash This August

The Nash announces its calendar of shows for August including Jazz Messengers Alum, Bobby Watson, who arrives in Phoenix to perform with Lewis Nash on August 13th.

Other highlights include young saxophonist Misha Olarrea, who will perform August 11 as part of The Nash's Catch A Rising Star Series, which fosters local talent and Third Thursday Happy Hour featuring Mike Vax on August 17.

The live jazz club also features a wide array of jazz styles, jam sessions, lectures and matinee shows to appeal to all tastes and ages.

The Nash is located at 110 E. Roosevelt St on Roosevelt Row in downtown Phoenix. Tickets for all shows and jam sessions are available at www.thenash.org or by calling 602-795-0464. Advance tickets are on sale at www.thenash.org or may be purchased at the door.

The Nash offers extensive wine and beer service at all shows with a wonderful selection of full and half bottles of wine as well as an assortment of craft beers for our patrons' enjoyment.

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August 4: FIRST FRIDAY
Alex Young @ The Nash
7:30 PM
The Nash, 110 E. Roosevelt Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Tickets: FREE at www.thenash.org or 602-795-0464

Alex Young-alto saxophone, Alan Acosta-tenor saxophone, David Paonessa-piano, Chad Cole-bass, Caleb Michel-drums

Alto saxophonist Alex Young is a recent graduate of Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies. Young has studied with Bryon Ruth, Mike Kocour, Ralph Lalama, and Dave Pietro. He has performed at The Nash, the Lost Leaf, Winfields, Club Congress, and the Vig. He has shared the stage with musicians such as Gabe Hall Rodriguez, Jacob Eary, and Aleks Izotov, and he has performed with the Arizona Jazz Masterworks Orchestra under the direction of Fred Forney. Young cites alto saxophonists Cannonball Adderley and Dave Binney as influences.

August 5
West Coast Cool Octet @ The Nash
7:30 PM
The Nash, 110 E. Roosevelt Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Tickets: $20 adults/$10 students at www.thenash.org or 602-795-0464

Frank Smith-tenor sax, Paul Brewer-baritone sax, Denny Monce-trumpet, Mark Witt-trombone, Russ Schmidt-piano, Eric Bart-guitar, Vic Kottner-bass, Bob McKeon-drums

This performance will feature the music of Dave Pell, whose legendary 1940's-era California-based octet employed a who's-who of West Coast jazz greats, including Shorty Rogers, Marty Paich, Bill Holman & John Williams to name just a few.

August 6
Jazz Matinee -Michael Powers @ The Nash
3:00 PM
The Nash, 110 E. Roosevelt Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Tickets: $20 adults/$10 students at www.thenash.org or 602-795-0464

Michael Powers-guitar, Ioannis Goudelis-piano, Mario Mendivil-drums, Joe Costello-drums

"It's hard to categorize my music, although it usually ends up in the Jazz record bins," says Michael. "If I had to put a label on it, I would call it contemporary instrumental music. It's a sound rooted in the Jazz tradition that keeps pace stylistically with Pop, R&B, and Blues; with Blues being at the core of my inspiration." His powerful performances have regularly commanded standing ovations.

August 6
Sunday Jam Session @ The Nash
6:00 PM
The Nash, 110 E. Roosevelt Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Tickets: $8 general, $5 students, free for instrumentalists and vocalists who sit in at www.thenash.org or 602-795-0464

Raul Yañez-piano/bandleader, Ted Sistrunk-bass, Ryan Anthony-drums

Every Sunday the true spirit of jazz plays out on stage at The Nash, as student and pro musicians play together, unrehearsed, in a variety of combinations. There's always a solid core trio. Student jazz musicians are welcome, with house band, grand piano, guitar and bass amp, drum set and sound all provided. Singers welcome. Event open to all ages! Great opportunities for audiences to enjoy 3 hours of jazz.

August 11
"Rising Star" Misha Olarrea-tenor saxophone @ The Nash
7:30 pm
The Nash, 110 E. Roosevelt Road, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Tickets: $15 adults/$5 students at www.thenash.org or 602-795-0464.

Misha Olarrea - tenor saxophone, Alan Acosta - alto saxophone, Alex Melnychuck - trumpet, Russell Schmidt - piano, Dylan Holly - bass, Kai Felix - drums

Misha Olarrea is currently the lead tenor player of Tucson's University High School Jazz Band 1. In his six-year involvement with the Tucson Jazz Institute, he received solo awards at the NAU Jazz Festival, the Arizona State Jazz Festival, the Provo Jazz Festival, and the Fullerton Jazz Festival. He has also performed at the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival and the Jazz Educators Network Festival. Throughout each of his high school years to date, Misha was selected for the All State Jazz Band. In addition, Misha has had the honor of sharing the stage with Greg Fishman, Walter Blanding, and Sherman Irby. A student of saxophonist Brice Winston for seven years, Misha also studied with Ravi Coltrane at the Jazz Institute at Stanford during the summer of 2017.

August 12
Fred Forney @ The Nash
7:30 PM
The Nash, 110 E. Roosevelt Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Tickets: $20 adults/$10 students at www.thenash.org or 602-795-0464

Fred Forney - Trumpet

Come to The Nash for a relaxing night of jazz with Fred Forney.

SPECIAL EVENT
August 13
Bobby Watson Quartet with Lewis Nash @ The Nash
7:00 PM
The Nash, 110 E. Roosevelt Row
Tickets: $65 (VIP); $42, $32, $20 for students (restrictions apply) at www.thenash.org or 602-795-0464.

Billy Watson- saxophone, Stephen Scott-piano, Curtis Lundy-bass, Lewis Nash-drums

For more than three decades, Watson has contributed consistently intelligent, sensitive and well-thought-out music...and his magnificent tone to the modern-day jazz lexicon - including some 30 recordings as a leader and another 100+ recordings as either co-leader or in support of other like-minded musicians. Watson has also recorded more than 100 original compositions, including the soundtrack of A Bronx Tale, which marked Robert DeNiro's 1993 directorial debut. Watson, who was at The Nash with Javon Jackson's The Jazz Message in 2015, returns to celebrate his recent critically acclaimed recording project, Made in America. The album's material provides a history lesson with each tune, paying tribute to the accomplishments of Black Americans, many of whose contributions have been overlooked or forgotten. Watson's quartet features the album's all-star band - pianist Stephen Scott, bassist Curtis Lundy, and Lewis Nash on drums. In addition to bringing their respective creative, individual intuitions to the group, this rhythm section shares the common history of having provided what Lewis Nash dubbed, "a feeling of intense swing" for legendary songstress BetTy Carter.

August 17
3rd THURSDAYS JAZZ HAPPY HOUR @ The Nash, Featuring Mike Vax
5:00 PM
The Nash, 110 E. Roosevelt Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Tickets: Reduced Show Admission: $10 Includes your first beer or glass of wine (house selection) $5 OFF Select Wine Bottles. Tickets at www.thenash.org or 602-795-0464.

Mike Vax & Ron Romm - trumpet/flugelhorn, Joel Robin & Yanni Goudelis-piano, Jack Petersen-guitar, Selwyn Reams-bass, Cleve Huff-drums

Mike Vax is an International Artist for the Getzen Musical Instrument Company. He is also a Summit Records recording artist. He has played lead and solo trumpet with the Stan Kenton Orchestra, the Clark Terry Big Bad Band, and the U.S. Navy Show Band. Mike has also performed and/or recorded with such greats as Art Pepper, Gene Krupa, Cab Calloway, Al Grey, Freddy Hubbard, John Handy, Don Ellis, Don Jacoby, Louie Bellson, Joe Williams, Anita O'Day, June Christy, Barbara McNair, the Four Freshmen, The Glenn Miller, Harry James, and Jimmy Dorsey Orchestras, The Navy Commodores, The Army Blues, The Army Jazz Ambassadors, The Air Force Falconaires, the Beverly Hills Unlisted Jazz Band, and the Dukes of Dixieland in New Orleans.

August 18
Rassmussen, Thiefain, McClintock @ The Nash
7:30 PM
The Nash, 110 E. Roosevelt Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Tickets: $15 adults/$8 students at www.thenash.org or 602-795-0464

Eric Rasmussen-sax, Vince Thiefain-bass, Matt McClintock-drums

Three progressive jazz musicians come together to form Rasmussen/Thiefain/McClintock, a group dedicated to the performance of contemporary music. This ambitious trio honors elements of bebop, post-bop, and avant-garde music to create an unorthodox yet swinging sound. As Phoenix locals, this group prides itself on maintaining a culture of experimentation in our community. Featuring Eric Rasmussen on alto sax, Vince Thiefain on bass, and Matt McClintock on drums, this will be a night of daring music for every listener.

August 19
Alice Tatum @ The Nash
7:30 PM
The Nash, 110 E. Roosevelt Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Tickets: $20 adults/$10 students
www.thenash.org or 602-795-0464

Alice Tatum is an award winning and critically acclaimed singer who has been a fixture on the Phoenix music scene for more than 30 years. She is an accomplished jazz vocalist, as well as excelling in pop music genres. Alice has performed with greats such as Michael McDonald, Tom Scott, The Righteous Brothers, Bonnie Raitt, Alice Cooper and Nancy Wilson. She has sung on national commercials, TV, and film, as well as on her own three CD projects. Alice always puts on a dynamic show with amazing vocal range.

August 20
Jazz Matinee -Danny Long @ The Nash
3:00 PM
The Nash, 110 E. Roosevelt Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Tickets: $15 General, $12 Seniors (60+), $5 Students w/ ID, Youth under age 12 admitted FREE at www.thenash.org or 602-795-0464

Danny Long-piano/vocals

Danny Long headlined in Chicago, toured nationally, released an album on Capitol Records and inhabited the showrooms of Las Vegas prior to moving to Phoenix in 1980. He draws his musical repertoire primarily from the Great American Songbook, interpreting tunes by such masters as Cole Porter, George and Ira Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Duke Ellington and Rodgers and Hart.

August 20
Sunday Jam Session @ The Nash
6:00 PM
The Nash, 110 E. Roosevelt Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Tickets: $8 general, $5 students, free for instrumentalists and vocalists who sit in at www.thenash.org or 602-795-0464

Mike Ozuna-guitar/bandleader, Chris Finet-bass, Ryan Anthony-drums

Every Sunday the true spirit of jazz plays out on stage at The Nash, as student and pro musicians play together, unrehearsed, in a variety of combinations. There's always a solid core trio. Student jazz musicians are welcome, with house band, grand piano, guitar and bass amp, drum set and sound all provided. Singers welcome. Event open to all ages! Great opportunities for audiences to enjoy 3 hours of jazz.

August 25
Video Game Jazz with Emilio Vargas and Ray Lebert @ The Nash
7:30 PM
The Nash, 110 E. Roosevelt Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Tickets: $15 adults/$8 students at www.thenash.org or 602-795-0464

Emilio Vargas-sax, Ray Lebert-guitar, Vincent Thiefain-bass, Scott Gleason-drums

Emilio Vargas and Ray Lebert perform jazz arrangements of tunes across the history of video games. The Ray Lebert Quartet has been playing together for 4 years and performs throughout the Phoenix area. For their upcoming Nash show, the group will tackle their own musical arrangements from video games such as Pokemon, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Zelda.

August 26
Michael Kocour Trio @ The Nash
7:30 PM
The Nash, 110 E. Roosevelt Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Tickets: $20 adults/$10 students at www.thenash.org or 602-795-0464

Mike Kocour-piano, Dr. Ben Hedquist-bass, Dom Moio-drums

Come to The Nash and get inside the groove with this tippin' trio.

August 27
Sunday Jam Session @ The Nash
6:00 PM
The Nash, 110 E. Roosevelt Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Tickets: $8 general, $5 students, free for instrumentalists and vocalists who sit in at www.thenash.org or 602-795-0464

Pam Morita-piano/bandleader, Ben Hedquist-bass, Ryan Anthony-drums

Every Sunday the true spirit of jazz plays out on stage at The Nash, as student and pro musicians play together, unrehearsed, in a variety of combinations. There's always a solid core trio. Student jazz musicians are welcome, with house band, grand piano, guitar and bass amp, drum set and sound all provided. Singers welcome. Event open to all ages! Great opportunities for audiences to enjoy 3 hours of jazz.

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Recognized by Downbeat Magazine as one of the top jazz venues in the United States, 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, TheNash 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.

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 themost 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.

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