Ted Nash shows what coming from a musical family can do for a guy. Son of famed session trombonist Dick Nash and nephew to likewise Ted, this younger Nash has carved out a successful career in many a big band setting ranging form Gerry Mulligan to his present seat in Wynton Marsalis’ JALCO. His last big band album got a Grammy award, so he’s no slouch!
This time around, he returns to his first love, namely the small group format. He’s been successful before as such with his wonderful Henry Mancini album a number of years ago, but nothing beats a live performance, and this one with Warren Wolf/vib, Gary Versace/p, Rufus Reid/b and Matt Wilson/dr pulls out all the swinging stops.
What helps the most is Nash’s gorgeous tone on the alto. He’s as warm as a summer breeze on “Spinning Song” and tastefully does a slinky stop start with Reid and Wilson on a cleverly nourish read of “Epistrophy.” His own minor mooded bopper “Organized Crime” has him slink around with Wolff’s vibes while he rides Wilson’s cymbals on the fun “Sisters.” Switching to clarinet, he does a gorgeous duet with Versace on glowing “Emily” and closes out the enchanted evening on piccolo on a joyful “Elephant Walk.” Who thought a jazz gig could be this much fun again. Check out the good vibes, in more ways than one!
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