
ASU jazz students are benefiting from a new place to showcase their talents at The Nash, a nonprofit music center in downtown Phoenix.
The Nash, located in the Roosevelt Arts District, strives to bring young jazz musicians and the community together.
Music students and faculty participate in Sunday night “jam sessions,” where they can improvise jazz numbers with seasoned players in front of an audience.
On a typical Sunday night, more than 20 musicians play at the impromptu jam sessions.
Jazz in AZ is the nonprofit group that owns and operates The Nash and promotes the art of live jazz performance in Arizona.
Associate Director Jeff Libman, an ASU jazz studies professor, has played a big role in connecting ASU music students with The Nash.
“Many of our musicians graduating from the ASU School of Music Jazz Studies program are some of the top jazz musicians in Phoenix and the country,” Libman said.
He said the center provides an opportunity for people of all ages to participate in the broad medium that is jazz.
“We wanted to have a literal place for jazz to happen outside of the classroom,” Libman said.
The Nash features music ranging from classical to modern jazz and allows young musicians to learn from more experienced artists.
Since its opening in April, the venue has seen performances from some of the largest names in jazz, including trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, bassist Peter Washington, pianist Renee Rosnes and drummer Lewis Nash, the spot’s namesake.
Jazz in AZ Executive Director Joel Goldenthal said Phoenix deserves more credit than it has received for being a musical destination for jazz bands in the Southwest.
“Phoenix is a far more sophisticated market than it’s given credit for,” Goldenthal said. “We want to put Phoenix on the jazz map.”
Goldenthal said the center was intentionally placed in the downtown area to attract young musicians from around Phoenix.
“We want to spark the fire of people’s interest in the art form,” Goldenthal said.
The 2,600-square-foot space has an open and intimate feel, with a dark concrete glazed floor, exposed iron ceiling trusses and local artwork adorning the cleanly lit walls.
There is no stage — a detail chosen by the musicians themselves to put them on the same level as the listeners in the audience.
Jazz studies junior John Meier, a guitar player, said he appreciates The Nash for its centralized location and musical variety.
“I’m here to play,” Meier said. “It is just a good opportunity to play with people you don’t know. It’s great for networking too.”
Phoenix resident and jazz enthusiast Dan Schein lives close to The Nash and is a regular at the venue’s weekly jam session.
“I like to see the younger kids jam,” Shein said. “ That’s important to the next generation.”
Reach the reporter at rvalcho@asu.edu