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Mallet Magic: Steve Nelson Quartet at the Jazz Bakery, June 13-16

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Tuesday, 09 February 2010

Mallet Magic: Steve Nelson Quartet at the Jazz Bakery, June 13-16

Written by Andrea Canter, Contributing Editor

Sunday, 10 June 2007

Steve Nelson © Andrea Canter

Perhaps most well known as the vibraphonist for the Dave Holland Quintet and Big Band, Steve Nelson is also a star in his own right. A true magician, in his hands the mallets transform into feathery streaks of light. Nelson brings his sonic sleight-of-hand to the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles, June 13-16, featuring monster pianist Patrice Rushen.

Pittsburgh native Steve Nelson graduated from Rutgers University with Masters and Bachelors degrees in music. Influenced by Milt Jackson while evolving his own sound, he gigged with Grant Green in the 1970s, and since has performed and/or recorded with Kenny Barron, Bobby Watson, Mulgrew Miller, David Fathead Newman, Johnny Griffin, Jackie McLean and Buster Williams, and has been a member of Dave Holland’s Quintet and Big Band for over a decade. Of his role in Dave Holland’s ensembles, Martin Longley (Jazzreview) offered that “Steve Nelson plays an important role throughout, his tingly-spine sparks acting as a piano alternative, establishing a unique form of punctuation for the whole band…” His recordings as a leader include Live at Acireale (Red Records), Full Nelson and Fuller Nelson (Sunnyside), New Beginnings (TCB), and Communications (Criss Cross). Nelson is also a dedicated jazz educator who has taught at Princeton University.

Patrice Rushen

Keyboard giant Patrice Rushen maintains a hectic schedule that includes producing, directing, composing, scoring, and recording. In the footsteps of mentor Quincy Jones, Rushen has received critical acclaim for songwriting and scoring for films such as “Men in Black” and “Waiting to Exhale.” She has numerous credits as music director for television, film, and such touring stars as Janet Jackson; spent a year as composer in residence for the Detroit Symphony; and is actively involved in bringing music education to inner city youth. Yet she is also an incredible pianist whose classical training has been extended to all points in the musical universe, from rock-fusion and R &B to physical, complex post-bop jazz. Throughout her career, she has performed solo and with such artists as Stanley Turrentine, Herbie Hancock, Joshua Redman, Buster Williams and Dianna Reeves.

Lewis Nash

Four-time Grammy-winning bassist Robert Hurst received a Presidential Scholarship during the Reagan administration (Arts Recognition and Talent Search) and went on to work in the bands of both Wynton and Branford Marsalis early in his career. Acclaimed as a composer, film scorer, arranger and educator, as well as performer, Hurst has led the Tonight Show Band. In addition to two acclaimed releases as leader, Hurst appears on numerous recordings by Dianna Krall, Delfeayo Marsalis, Jeff Watts, Geri Allen and more. He teaches at California State University (Northridge), the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz and at Julliard.

Drummer Lewis Nash, a native of Phoenix, began his career playing around town with visiting artists such as Sonny Stitt, Art Pepper, Red Garland, Lee Konitz, Barney Kessell and Slide Hampton. Moving to New York in 1981, he worked with Betty Carter for four years before joining Ron Carter’s bands, and later played with Branford Marsalis, J.J. Johnson and the Don Pullen/George Adams Quartet. After a decade-long association with Tommy Flanagan, Nash has led his own ensembles and appears frequently at Dizzy’s at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Versatile and graceful behind the trapset, Nash is also a dedicated jazz educator. Noted Ben Ratliffe in the New York Times, “In Lewis Nash's drum patterns there was such acute attention to timbre and melodic grace that at times he sounded more as if he were playing composed lines on a vibraphone..."

Four magical nights are in store at the Jazz Bakery when the Steve Nelson Quartet takes the stage, June 13-16. Two shows each night, 8 and 9:30 pm.

The Jazz Bakery is located at 3233 Helms Blvd in Los Angeles; www.jazzbakery.com.

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