Ted Nash Trio feat. Steve Cardenas & Ben Allison

Together on this concert date, tenor saxophonist Ted Nash, guitarist Steve Cardenas, and bassist Ben Allison honor the music of oft-overlooked pianist/composer Herbie Nichols. Against the backdrop of over 25 years of creative collaboration Allison, Cardenas, and Nash weave musical conversations that are full of subtlety and surprise. They take turns arranging for the trio, which has released four albums, to-date. The group is modeled after reedist/composer Jimmy Giuffre’s drummer-less trios of the 1950s and 60s. As jazz was becoming more expressionistic and at times bombastic, musicians like Giuffre were going in the opposite direction. They were envisioning quieter music that maintained elements of blues and folk, while also embracing the emerging qualities of free playing.

On their stunning new release, Allison, Cardenas, and Nash turn their attention to the unique and ever-surprising music of the under-appreciated pianist/composer Herbie Nichols (1919-1963). The album features six previously unheard Nichols compositions, along with re-workings of two tunes first recorded by The Herbie Nichols Project in 2000.

Ted Nash Website
Ben Allison Website 
Steve Cardenas Website
(Ticket Includes 5% City of Santa Cruz Admission Tax)