NASHVILLE, TN — The Nashville Jazz Workshop is excited to announce a new concert series, Jazz in the Park. The monthly series consists of three Friday evening concerts at the Hadley Park Bandshell with some fantastic local artists. All concerts are from 5:30 to 7pm and are free and open to the public.
The series builds on the Nashville Jazz Workshop’s mission to enrich lives and build community through world class jazz education and performance. Free concerts in the park give everyone in the community the chance to enjoy great music in a family-friendly setting. The Hadley Park Bandshell has plenty of park bench seating as well as large open areas suitable for lawn chairs and picnic blankets! The series is supported by noted jazz educator Jamey Aebersold, who is underwriting expenses for the musicians. The Tennessee Tribune is a media partner. Here are the artists headlining Jazz in the Park:
Friday, May 19, 2023 Emmanuel Echem
Trumpeter, composer, and arranger Emmanuel Echem is one of the city’s most exciting young jazz players. Emmanuel has appeared many times on the Nashville Jazz Workshop stage but this will be his debut as a leader, and is not to be missed! A 2016 graduate of Belmont University, Emmanuel has firmly established himself in the Nashville music community. His performing and recording credits are a who’s who, ranging from LeAnn Rimes and Joss Stone to Dumstaphunk and Boyz II Men, to Roy “Futureman” Wooten and the Nashville Jazz Orchestra. His unique and soulful improvisational style frequently draws comparisons to trumpet masters such as Clifford Brown, Freddie Hubbard, and Roy Hargrove.
Joining Emmanuel for this concert will be a superb group of players: Jovan Quallo (saxophone), David Rodgers (piano), Steve Forrest (bass), and Marcus Finnie (drums).
Friday, June 23, 2023 Rod McGaha
A longtime favorite of jazz fans in Nashville, Chicago native Rod McGaha continues to blaze new creative trails. Mentored by jazz master Clark Terry at DePaul University, Rod went on to perform with such artists as Lou Rawls, The O’Jays, Bebe and Cece Winans, Take 6, and Kirk Whalum, and Max Roach and his Brass Quintet. Jazz artists today frequently cross stylistic boundaries but Rod has done this since the 1990’s, drawing from gospel, funk, and R&B as well as classic jazz. His interests in photography and visual art are often combined with jazz in creative multimedia projects. Rod is a frequent instructor at the Nashville Jazz Workshop and a frequent performer in the Jazz Cave. He also loves performing for children and has appeared in the NJW’s new Jazz A.M. series.
Friday, July 14, 2023 Cord Martin
Cord Martin is one of the finest saxophonists in the area who you may never have heard, as he spends most of his time mentoring young musicians in Middle Tennessee! A distinguished educator in Columbia, Tennessee, where he has earned honors as “Teacher of the Year,” he has also led the Ethos Jazz Ensemble, where he was responsible for bringing jazz notables Don Braden and Valery Pomonarev to the area for concerts at the Cave and to work with the ensemble.
Cord has led groups in concerts at the Nashville Jazz Workshop and continues to perform and record in the Nashville area. He has performed alongside renowned artists and groups such as “The Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin, The Cab Calloway Orchestra, saxophonist Don Braden, saxophonist Greg Osby, trumpeter Tom Harrell, trumpeter Rick Braun, Grammy-nominated saxophonist Jeff Coffin, legendary alto saxophonist Lee Konitz and Grammy-winning keyboardist Ben Tankard.
For over two decades the Nashville Jazz Workshop (NJW) has presented, instructed and preserved the art of jazz in Music City, USA. Countless musicians, amateur to professional, jazz fans, and others have expanded their skills and appreciation for this distinct American art form through NJW classes, concerts, and special events for the community. As a nonprofit organization, NJW’s mission is to enrich people’s lives and build community through jazz education and performance. NJW is located in historic North Nashville in the Buchanan Arts District, at 1012 Buchanan Street. For more information, contact the Nashville Jazz Workshop at 615-242-JAZZ (5299). www.nashvillejazz.org.
