Special to Independent Newsmedia
The downtown Phoenix home for live jazz is temporarily moving shows over to its summer concert home while its regular spot, on Roosevelt Row, undergoes renovations and construction.
The Nash announced its June lineup of shows taking place at Venue 122, located less than a mile away at 122 E. Culver St., in Phoenix. Renovations at The Nash’s education center are part of the $2.5 million facilities project announced earlier this year.
All seating at Venue 122 is general admission, with beer, wine, soft drinks, and snacks available for purchase.
JUNE LINEUP
7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 1: Carmela y Más
A night of Latin Jazz and Salsa with Merengue and Cha Cha rhythms. Their Afro-Cuban/Caribbean sound showcases Carmela Ramirez (lead vocalist), Rebecca Kennell (trumpet/vocals/musical director), Claudia Bloom (piano), Danny Brito (drums/timbales), Danny Martinez (congas), Luisa Cintron (bongos/percussion/vocals), Esteban Camacho (sax/vocals), and Mark Witt (trombone).
3 p.m. Sunday, June 2: Francine Reed
Reed reigned as the most popular jazz and blues vocalist in the Valley from the mid-’70s through the early ’90s. She has been part of Lyle Lovett’s Large Band since the ’80s and has appeared on “The Tonight Show.”
7:30 p.m. Friday, June 7: Sandra Bassett
A night of jazz as sensational vocalist Sandra Bassett is joined by Alex Holland (sax), Dave Henning (keys), Steve Gripp (guitar), Michael Williams (bass), and Jarred Bowens (drums).
7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 8: Darrell Grant’s MJ New
Darrell Grant’s MJ New takes audiences on a journey from the heart of the Harlem Renaissance to Vienna, Brazil, and back again. The group illuminates the diverse traditions of Black American Music with Darrell Grant (piano), Mike Horsfall (vibes), Marcus Shelby (bass), and Cecil Brooks III (drums).
7:30 p.m. Friday, June 14: Charles Lewis Quintet +1
Charles Lewis was the first jazz-category inductee of the Arizona Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame. Combo includes Joe Corral (flute), Frank Smith (flute/sax), Lewis (piano), Dwight Kilian (bass), Lewis Nash (drums), and Steve Banks (percussion).
Sherry Roberson, who has appeared in concert for two decades with the Jazz Divas, will perform at Venue 122 on June 15.
(Photo provided by The Nash)
7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 15: Sherry Roberson
Roberson has appeared in concert for two decades with the Jazz Divas and has toured overseas to Bangkok, Thailand and Istanbul, Turkey, with her spontaneous interpretations of the Great American Songbook.
7:30 p.m. Friday, June 21: The Nash Summer Camp Faculty Concert
The end-of-camp concert for the Nash Jazz Summer Camp featuring performances by Clark Gibson (saxophone), Mary Petrich (saxophone), Ashlin Parker (trumpet), Deborah Weisz (trombone), Charles Lewis (piano), Jeff Libman (guitar), Chris Finet (bass), and Lewis Nash (drums).
7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 22: Dave Henning’s Isotope
His world-class piano playing is consistently inspiring and helll bring his own group, Isotope, into Venue 122 for straight-ahead jazz with some of Arizona’s finest musicians including Nick Menasco (tenor sax), Rob Wagener (electric bass), and Erik Teichmann (drums).
7:30 p.m. Friday, June 28: Dennis Rowland & Diana Lee
Vocal jazz fans get to see two of the Phoenix area’s most accomplished performers take the stage together.
7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 29: An Evening with Nicole Pesce
Pianist, keyboardist, composer, and arranger Nicole Pesce entertains audiences with a repertoire consisting of more than 12,000 memorized songs.
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