“Freedom Jazz Dance” was composed in 1961 by saxophonist Eddie Harris. It became a jazz standard five years later when Miles Davis featured it on his 1966 Columbia album, Miles Smiles. On Saturday night, November 30, at the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC), drummer Lewis Nash performed a dazzling solo performance of it to celebrate his coronation as a “Giant of Jazz”.
Earlier in the evening, Nash revealed that, upon learning of the honor from Giants of Jazz concert producer John Lee, “My first thought was that there were other musicians more deserving than me. But, I accepted because now I could be an advocate for those musicians.” Before launching into “Freedom Jazz Dance”, Nash talked about “many of the greats who have passed on — Roy Haynes, Max Roach, and my teacher for many years, Freddie Waits.”
Several previous Jazz Giants saluted Nash. Bassist Rufus Reid called him “a bass player’s dream. His beat is always consistent.” Bassist Buster Williams said that when Nash plays, “It’s like he’s talking to you. He stops for an instant to see if you got it.” And, drummer Billy Hart added: “I’m honored and happy to acknowledge the genius of this man — his wisdom, sense of purpose, enthusiasm.”
(Photo above: Drummer meet-up, from left: Winard Harper, Lewis Nash, Tommy Campbell, and Billy Hart).
This annual all-star concert had many highlights, but a couple stand out. One was the trio of 80-year-old bassist Reid with pianist Emmet Cohen and drummer Evan Sherman, playing Arthur Schwartz’s “You and the Night and the Music.” Cohen and Sherman, both in their 30s, are comfortable playing with jazz legends. In early 2020, they toured Midwestern college campuses with the late saxophonist Benny Golson. Cohen’s “Master Legacy” album series, often including Sherman, features partnerships with bassist Ron Carter, tenor saxophonist Houston Person, and Golson, among others. Sherman’s big band often includes veterans such as trombonist Frank Lacy and tenor saxophonist Patience Higgins. Cohen and Sherman have such synergy, it seems they can anticipate each other’s musical movements, resulting in a superb collaboration.
Another special moment was provided by the amazing alto saxophonist Erena Terakubo, performing Juan Tizol’s “Caravan”. Inexplicably, Terakubo was the only female instrumentalist in the concert lineup, an omission magnified by the fact that there were no female drummers gracing the stage. Think how extraordinary it would have been to have Terri Lyne Carrington, Sherrie Maricle, or Allison Miller toasting Lewis Nash.-SANFORD JOSEPHSON
(Photos below, from left: Emmet Cohen, Erena Terakubo, Evan Sherman)
PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER DRUKKER
