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Ted Nash

Grammy-nominated artist Ted Nash enjoys an extraordinary career as a performer, conductor, composer, arranger, and educator. Born in Los Angeles, multi-instrumentalist Nash's interest in music started at an early age. He was exposed to music and encouraged by his father, trombonist Dick Nash, and uncle, reedman Ted Nash - both well-known studio and jazz musicians. Nash blossomed early, a “young lion” before the term became marketing vernacular.

During his first three years in New York Nash became a regular member of a variety of ensembles. He worked with the Gerry Mulligan Big Band, the National Jazz Ensemble and the Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra.

One of Nash's most important associations is with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, for whom he composed Portrait in Seven Shades, a suite dedicated to seven different iconic painters. This recording received two Grammy nominations, including best arranger, and has been credited by Ted Panken in Downbeat Magazine as marking a new direction for the Orchestra.

Nash's other recordings have appeared on many national "best-of" lists including The New Yorker, The New York Times, Village Voice, The Boston Globe, and New York Newsday.

Time Out Magazine wrote: "One of our favorite jazz memories of the past few years came during saxophonist Ted Nash's intense, blistering solo in a recent Jazz at Lincoln Center performance here in Chicago. Born in L.A. to a family of Hollywood session players but currently living in New York, Nash has that kind of instantly identifiable talent that makes the distracted pay attention."

Nash, while always mindful of traditions, reaches well outside a "traditional" nexus. His eclectic group Odeon has garnered much attention in the jazz world and received features and in-depth mentions from publications such as The New York Times, Village Voice, Boston Globe, and New York Newsday. Said the Los Angeles Times after hearing this group at the Jazz Bakery, one of the area's best clubs: "You say jazz is having trouble these days finding a creative focus? Don't believe it. Go to the Jazz Bakery tonight to hear saxophonist Ted Nash's marvelous group Odeon, and any doubts will quickly be dispelled. What this Los Angeles native is demonstrating with Odeon is the fact that — far from being on a down slope — jazz is in a period of extraordinary opportunity."

In the most recent Downbeat Critics Poll (2011), Nash appeared in seven categories, including Best Composer and Rising Star Best Jazz Artist.

Gear

Ted Nash plays Rico Reeds.

Glenn Close & Ted Nash: Transformation

Read "Transformation" reviewed by Paul Rauch

by Paul Rauch
May 19, 2021

Transformation is a multi-disciplinary work from saxophonist/composer Ted Nash, and iconic actress Glenn Close, exploring the multi-faceted and abstract theme of transformation. The works included examine the theme from both universal and individual conceptions. Music and literature at its best is clearly transformative for anyone experiencing it. Transformation is by essence, the highest and most illuminating expression of change. Nash embraced the project by creating a colorful and illustrative collection of pieces, embracing Close's curated literary selections recited by the ...

Album Review

Glenn Close/Ted Nash: Transformation

Read "Transformation" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
April 19, 2021

When confronted by an album whose tracks include the names “Creation" (Parts 1 and 2), “Preludes for Memnon," “Wisdom of the Humanities" and “Reaching the Tropopause," among others, one braces for whatever may transpire, buoyed by the thought that with Glenn Close, Ted Nash and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra on board, how displeasing could it be? The verdict: not at all displeasing—but it must be appraised on its own terms, as a series of philosophical and hopefully transformative ...

Album Review

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra Septet with Wynton Marsalis: The Democracy! Suite

Read "The Democracy! Suite" reviewed by Paul Rauch

by Paul Rauch
February 8, 2021

There is an interesting generational divide in perception when it comes to the music of Wynton Marsalis. While many hail his work at Lincoln Center as elevating jazz to its rightful place among the fine arts, others lament the separation from his iconic quartet and quintet work in the 1980's as some sort of jazz treason. What is unquestionable is his virtuosity and eloquence, expressing each note with beauty as the clear priority in his playing as a ...

Album Review

Falkner Evans: Marbles

by Jack Bowers
August 8, 2020

On his fifth recording as leader, pianist / composer Falkner Evans has expanded his group size from trio (the first three) and quintet (the fourth) to sextet with vibraphonist Steve Nelson added on three of the album's ten numbers, the first nine of which were written by Evans. Even though this was a one-off, Evans' teammates are skillful enough to make it sound like a working ensemble. One reason for this is that the rhythm section (bassist Belden Bullock, drummer ...

Album Review

Falkner Evans: Marbles

Read "Marbles" reviewed by Jerome Wilson

by Jerome Wilson
July 26, 2020

Pianist Falkner Evans has been gradually expanding the size of his recording projects. He started out with a couple of trio discs, then made one with a quintet. On this latest offering, he fronts a three-horn sextet scored to sound like a bigger and fuller unit. He uses a front line of Michael Blake on tenor sax, Ted Nash on alto sax and Ron Horton on trumpet, that is blended into a cool, reedy sound which ebbs and ...

Album Review

Ted Nash: Live at Dizzy’s

Read "Live at Dizzy’s" reviewed by Maurizio Zerbo

by Maurizio Zerbo
March 7, 2019

Primo album live di Ted Nash in venticinque anni di carriera, Live at Dizzy's ne fa rilucere le superbe doti di improvvisatore e multistrumentista. Già vincitore di un Grammy Awards per la direzione orchestrale del CD Portrait in Seven Shades (2011), il cinquantottenne musicista di Los Angeles si impone altresì per una cifra compositiva sapiente e sofisticata, esaltata dalle sinuose trame per flauto-sax-vibrafono. Le magnifiche composizioni di Chick Corea, Thelonious Monk, Herbie Nichols, Johnny Mandel ed Henry Mancini ...

Multiple Reviews

Jazz for President - Le suite di Delfeayo Marsalis e Ted Nash

by Angelo Leonardi
November 7, 2016

Gli anni sessanta sono lontani e con essi la controversia su jazz e politica. Com'è noto, la musica è un'arte asemantica e i musicisti non possono trasmettere significati (in questo caso politici) con il linguaggio delle note. Però gli artisti esprimono eventuali scelte ideologiche iscrivendo la loro musica in un quadro semantico più generale, fatto di manifesti programmatici, dichiarazioni, titolazioni di album e brani. Tutte cose che si riverberano sulla musica stessa, con effetti comunicativi per associazione. Negli ...

Performance / Tour

Ted Nash Trio World Premiere September 3 At Dizzy's Club - Somewhere Else: West Side Story Songs!

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations
August 21, 2019

Multi-Instrumentalist / Composer / Arranger Ted Nash Somewhere Else: West Side Story Songs with Steve Cardenas & Ben Allison World Premiere At Dizzy's Club on September 3 Jazz Week Chart, August 19 Biggest Gainers / Most Added Two-time Grammy winning composer and saxophonist Ted Nash presents the WORLD PREMIERE of his 15th album as a leader- Somewhere Else: West Side Story Songs (Plastic Sax Records) on September 3rd at Dizzy's Club! One Night Only! ...
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Recording

Multi-Instrumentalist Ted Nash Releases 'Somewhere Else - West Side Story Songs' on August 16th!

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations
July 2, 2019

Multi-Instrumentalist/Composer/Arranger Ted Nash Somewhere Else- West Side Story Songs with Steve Cardenas & Ben Allison. Two-time Grammy winning composer and saxophonist Ted Nash releases his 15th album as a leader. Somewhere Else- West Side Story Songs on Plastic Sax Records drops on August 16th. In Nash's own words: “There was a moment backstage when I wiped a bead of sweat from my temple and glanced over at Steve and Ben. We shook our heads and laughed. It was the only ...
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Performance / Tour

Ted Nash - Birth Of The American Jazz Orchestra - J@LC

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations
December 5, 2014

“This particular band, for me, is the strongest in the 15 years I’ve been in the band,” asserts Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra multi-instrumentalist Ted Nash. Experience this powerhouse band as the JLCO with Wynton Marsalis delve into the Birth of the American Jazz Orchestra on January 9-10 in Rose Theater. There is a free pre-concert discussion nightly at 7pm. “When you think about the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, “ continues Nash, “especially with the guys from Georgia, Illinois, ...
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Performance / Tour

Ted Nash Big Band: At Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, Oct 31- Nov 3

Source: Scott H. Thompson
October 28, 2013

Come enjoy the Ted Nash Big Band premiere performance of “Chakra" on October 31- November 3, 2013 at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola. The newly released Nash masterpiece features a 16-piece big band with a long-form composition in seven movements. The intimate club setting will highlight the GRAMMY-nominated multi-instrumentalist's talents as a performer/composer/bandleader. Ted Nash - conductor, alto sax, alto flute; Ben Kono - alto sax, soprano sax, flute, clarinet; Charles Pillow - alto sax, clarinet, flute, piccolo; Dan Willis - tenor ...
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Recording

Ted Nash Big Band "Chakra" CD Release Sept 17

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations
August 17, 2013

Ted Nash explores new textures and colors, creating a fresh sound expressed by the exciting and powerful setting of the Big Band... Grammy-nominated multi-instrumentalist Ted Nash releases his twelfth solo recording, Chakra on September 17, 2013. Nash's new album features a 16-piece big band performing a new long-form composition in seven movements. Following the success (two Grammy nominations) of his previous big band recording Portrait in Seven Shades, Nash takes his creative expression to a new level with this pioneering ...
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Performance / Tour

New York Kinda Jazz

Source: All About Jazz
May 17, 2010

TED NASH QUINTET (Wednesday and Thursday) The saxophonist Ted Nash, a prominent member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, with Frank Kimbrough on piano, Ray Drummond on bass and Willie Jones III on drums. Each night of the run will feature a guest trumpeter, starting with Brian Lynch on Wednesday (which is sold out) and Eddie Henderson on Thursday. (Through May 23.) At 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Dizzys Club ...
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Performance / Tour

Ted Nash Quintet Plays Dizzy's

Source: All About Jazz
May 13, 2010

Ted Nash's Quintet returns to Dizzy's May 19th-23rd with an exciting anthology of music from successful recordings.

Such as “Portrait in Seven Shades," “Still Evolved," “In The Loop," and “Rhyme and Reason," as well as music from a commission from the Museum of Modern Art entitled “CitiEscape."

Ted will be sharing the stage with outstanding guest trumpet players each night, this is a week not to be missed!

Personnel:

Ted Nash on saxophones and flute Frank Kimbrough on ...
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Interview

Ted Nash Helps Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra Expand Repertoire

Source: Michael Ricci
March 15, 2010

Saxophonist Ted Nash might play with one of the best-known classic jazz ensembles of today, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, but it doesn't mean his composer side is stuck in the traditional jazz genre. “We tend to limit ourselves based on what people have done before us and what we have done before," he says. “It's an easy trap to fall into, when you're writing for a big band, writing in a format that's comfortable for everyone." Nash's latest ...
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Performance / Tour

Ted Nash - Portrait in Seven Shades

Source: All About Jazz
February 20, 2010

We are thrilled for Ted Nash and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra for presenting Jazz & Art II at the Rose Theater on February 4-6, featuring Nash's Portrait in Seven Shades.

The concept of fusing jazz & art is used as the basis for this multi- media experience. These iconic paintings are reinterpreted through seven new jazz compositions, creating a mlange of sights and sounds.

Ted Nash and the Jazz at Lincoln Center it's brand new release, which was ...
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Recording

Ted Nash's Mancini Project Reaches #1 on the Radio Charts!

Source: All About Jazz
February 11, 2009

Announcing the release of The Mancini Project. Tapping into Mancini's rich legacy as a base for a creative project is a worthy choice in it's own right.

But for tenor saxist Ted Nash it was a personal one. Among jazz's elite growing up in Los Angeles in the 60's and 70's, a time when many would consider the hayday of the film industry's outpouring of original of music by great composers, one being Henry Mancini.

Nash had the good fortune ...
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“Neither a poster boy for the avant-garde nor a blinders-on traditionalist, Nash is simply his own man.” —Washington Post