Lewis Nash

Lewis Nash
Nash in concert at Sprague Hall in New Haven, Connecticut, September 14, 2007
Background information
Born	30 December 1958 (1958-12-30) Phoenix, Arizona United States
Genres	Jazz Be-bop Post-bop
Occupations	Musician, bandleader
Instruments	Drums
Years active	1982 - Current
Associated acts	Branford Marsalis, Ron Carter, Don Pullen/George Adams, The Blue Note 7

Lewis Nash (born December 30, 1958) is an American jazz drummer. According to Modern Drummer magazine, Nash has one of the longest discographies in jazz. and has played on over 400 records by musicians, earning him the honor of being named Jazz's Most Valuable Player by the magazine in its May, 2009 issue.

Nash is noted for his adaptability to a vast array of genres, as evidenced by his performances with such different musicians as Tommy Flanagan, Melissa Manchester, Diana Krall, and George Michael.

Biography

Early years

Nash grew up in Phoenix Arizona, where he was encouraged by his high school band teacher to develop his interests as a jazz musician. By the age of 18, Nash had regular work with visiting musicians to Phoenix. At age 22, when Betty Carter invited him to relocate to New York City and join her backing band, he accepted. Nash became a highly in-demand sideman during this period, and since his tenure with Carter, has recorded and toured with a vast array of highly regarded jazz musicians.

Collaborations with other musicians (incomplete)

Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Stitt, Oscar Peterson, Sonny Rollins, Ray Brown, Gerald Wilson, Horace Silver, Ron Carter, Hank Jones, Benny Carter, Milt Jackson, Art Farmer, McCoy Tyner, Wynton Marsalis, Clark Terry, Joe Williams, Nancy Wilson, Kenny Burrell, Jimmy Heath, and John Lewis. In addition, he has recorded with Willie Nelson, Natalie Cole, Bette Midler and Linda Ronstadt.

Nash has made 4 recordings as bandleader: Rhythm is My Business (1989), It Don't Mean A Thing (2003 Japanese import) and Stompin' At The Savoy (2005 Japanese import) and Lewis Nash and the Bebop All-Stars featuring Frank Wess (2008 Japanese Import).

In 2008, Nash became part of The Blue Note 7, a septet formed that year in honor of the 70th anniversary of Blue Note Records. The group recorded an album in 2008, entitled Mosaic, which was released in 2009 on Blue Note Records/EMI, and toured the United States in promotion of the album from January through April 2009.[1] The group plays the music of Blue Note Records from various artists, with arrangements by members of the band and Renee Rosnes.

Discography

As leader

• Rhythm is My Business (1989)
• It Don't Mean A Thing (2003 Japanese import)
• Stompin' At The Savoy (2005 Japanese import)

As sideman

With Toshiko Akiyoshi

• Four Seasons (1990)
• Remembering Bud: Cleopatra's Dream (1990)
• Chic Lady (1991)
• Hope (2005)

With The Blue Note 7

• Mosaic: A Celebration of Blue Note Records (Blue Note Records/EMI, 2009)

With Classical Jazz Quartet

• Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker (2001, Vertical Jazz) (deleted)
• The Classical Jazz Quartet Plays Bach (Vertical Jazz, 2002)
• The Classical Jazz Quartet Play Rachmaninov (May 16, 2006, Kind of Blue)
• The Classical Jazz Quartet Play Tchaikovsky (September 19, 2006)
• Christmas (2006)

With Joe Lovano

• Tenor Legacy (Blue Note, 1993)
• Quartets: Live at the Village Vanguard (Blue Note, 1995)

With David "Fathead" Newman

• Mr. Gentle Mr. Cool : A Tribute To Duke Ellington (1994, Kokopelli Records)

With Don Pullen

• Random Thoughts (Blue Note, 1990)

With Clark Terry

• Portraits (1989) - with Don Friedman (p), Victor Gaskin (b)

With McCoy Tyner

• Illuminations (2004)

With Roni Ben-Hur

• Fortuna (2008)