The Nash Celebrates the Japan-Jazz Connection

Prelude performance by The Ayako Shirasaki-Mayu Saeki Duo

The Nash celebrates the major contributions of Japan’s great jazz artists with a astounding concert. Legendary icon Ron Carter joins Takeshi Yamaguchi and Lewis Nash to form “The Trio” and will perform selections from their recordings including “The Trio II Live in Osaka.” The concert is preceded by a set with Ayako Shirasaki (Piano) and Mayu Saeki (flute) who return to The Nash after their popular appearance last spring.

RON CARTER is among the most original, prolific, and influential bassists in jazz history, with more than 2,200 albums to his credit, an accomplishment honored in the Guinness Book of World Records (2015). He has recorded with greats including: Tommy Flanagan, Gil Evans, Lena Horne, Bill Evans, B.B. King, the Kronos Quartet, Dexter Gordon, Wes Montgomery, and Bobby Timmons, Jaki Byard, Eric Dolphy and Cannonball Adderley.

LEWIS NASH was called “Jazz’s Most Valuable Player” by Modern Drummer Magazine and “…the most talented drummer of his generation” in the Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz. He has appeared on 10 Grammy Award–winning albums among more than 400 recordings with artists such as Betty Carter, Tommy Flanagan, Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Peterson, McCoy Tyner, Hank Jones, Joe Henderson, Sonny Rollins, Ron Carter, Clark Terry, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Diana Krall, Joe Lovano, and Roy Hargrove.

TAKESHI YAMAGUCHI (guitar) may not be familiar to American jazz fans; but the fact that he has performed and recorded with Carter and Nash for decades, and that Lewis asked us to fly Yamaguchi from Japan especially for this celebration, is evidence of his extraordinary talent and portends the unique musical journey that you will experience!

AYAKO SHIRASAKI (piano) and MAYU SAEKI (flute) are reprising last Spring’s popular appearance at The Nash to set the stage for The Trio and to bring yet another dimension of Japanese culture to the celebration. (Note: Shirasaki and Saeki will be appearing at the Japanese Friendship Garden in the Haru Festival to welcome Spring immediately prior to the first show. Info at www.japanesefriendshipgarden.org/haru)

This show is sponsored in part by Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix.