NASHVILLE, TN — The Nashville duo Concurrence featuring bassist/radio host Greg Bryant and keyboardist Paul Horton recently made jazz history. They were selected by new Newport Jazz Festival artistic director Nate Smith to be the opening act for the legendary event. Bryant, Horton and special guest Aaron Smith opened the 2026 Newport Festival last month, the identical event where such names as Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Muddy Waters and Mahalia Jackson have performed and recorded.
“Playing Newport Jazz Festival felt truly wonderful,” Bryant told the Tribune last week. “We opened the entire festival, and to be charged with setting the tone for something like that was truly special for our band. We were honored to be the first band that Grammy-winning drummer and recently appointed artistic festival director Nate Smith introduced. For the next thirty-five minutes the audience listened intently and even applauded a few of our musical transitions. They gave us a standing ovation by the very end. It was a real pleasure to play for them.”
Concurrence played selections from their most recent album “Indivisible” (LaReserve). It spotlights the negative impact of interstate highway construction on generations of communities of color, with special emphasis on what happened in Nashville and the destruction of Jefferson Street culture and commerce. It’s won universal critical acclaim, but Concurrence isn’t slowing down.
Bryant adds that LaReserve Records will be releasing the follow-up LP to “Indivisible” on December 11. It will be available both on digital platforms and in physical release via CD. Singles will also be released periodically starting in September and come through November.
“We’re really looking forward to it, and we expect to be returning to Nashville soon to perform selections from it,” Bryant concluded.
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