(SOUTH ORANGE, NJ) -- South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) will celebrate the 25th Anniversary of its iconic Giants of Jazz event by honoring Grammy Award-winning drummer and master band leader Lewis Nash on the Mainstage Saturday, November 30, 2024 at 8:00pm.
Known as “Jazz’s MVP” (Modern Drummer), Nash has created a staggering career across four decades that includes Grammy wins, countless nominations, academic contributions, and collaborations with such icons as Betty Carter, Nancy Wilson, Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Tommy Flanagan, Clark Terry, Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan, Hank Jones, Horace Silver, McCoy Tyner, Ray Brown, Milt Jackson, Jimmy Heath, Ron Carter, Wynton and Branford Marsalis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and many more.
Grammy Award-winning drummer and legendary band leader Lewis Nash appears on more than 500 recordings, including 10 Grammy Award winners and numerous Grammy nominees. A Phoenix, Arizona native, Nash arrived in New York City in 1981 at 22 and gained international recognition as a member of Betty Carter’s trio, a pivotal era for his development. In the years to follow, Nash toured, recorded, and performed with Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, JJ Johnson, Sonny Rollins, Tommy Flanagan, Sonny Stitt, Clark Terry, Stan Getz, Benny Golson, Art Farmer, Gerry Mulligan, Hank Jones, Horace Silver, McCoy Tyner, Ray Brown, Milt Jackson, Jimmy Heath, Randy Weston, Cedar Walton, Ron Carter, Wynton and Branford Marsalis, and countless other icons.
An in-demand educator, Nash presents clinics, masterclasses and workshops at institutions worldwide. He served as a member of the first jazz studies faculty at The Juilliard School in 2001, and has been a member of the faculty of the annual Vail Jazz Workshop for the past 20 years. In 2017, Nash joined the jazz studies faculty at Arizona State University, where he was named the Bob and Gretchen Ravenscroft Professor of Practice in Jazz. In early 2021, ASU created the Lewis Nash Scholarship Endowment to be awarded annually to a deserving undergraduate or graduate jazz performance student.
Curated by Grammy Award-winning bassist and producer — and South Orange resident — John Lee, Giants of Jazz unites audiences of every generation around Bebop, Bossa, Blues, and many more sounds that uplift and evolve a storied music tradition. “For 25 years, an astonishing number of world-class musicians have generously contributed their time and talent to this live series of tributes, helping me grow it into a regional institution,” says Lee. Of this year’s honoree, he adds, “Lewis is a force in this music. He’s a brilliant architect. And each time he plays, he shares his unique gift for intuitive listening and creative response — no matter the context. It is so fitting that we will be celebrating his remarkable career and enduring contributions here at SOPAC for the Giants of Jazz 25th Anniversary.”
Lee launched Giants of Jazz to serve the greater South Orange-Maplewood community in 1999, then began presenting the event at SOPAC in 2011. November’s event features appearances from an incredible lineup of musicians who bring their mastery to the stage in celebration of Nash. “Giants of Jazz is such an integral part of our cultural season,” says SOPAC Executive Director Lana Rogachevskaya. “I can’t wait for our audiences to celebrate Mr. Nash live in November — and I’m so proud we’re able to honor such a Jazz legend who has devoted himself to supporting each new generation of artists.”
Past honorees have included Jackie McLean, Jimmy Heath, Clark Terry, Marian McPartland, Randy Weston, George Coleman, McCoy Tyner, Kenny Barron, and other legends and luminaries.
This year’s lineup features Eric Alexander, Don Braden, Tommy Campbell, Cyrus Chestnut, Steve Davis, John DiMartino, Dezron Douglas, Roberta Gambarini, Winard Harper, Freddie Hendrix, Mike LeDonne, Rufus Reid, Evan Sherman, Buster Williams, and more incredible artists announcing soon.
Tickets are $55 and available for purchase online. A Giants of Jazz VIP Package is available for $120, which includes one reserved prime orchestra ticket; access to VIP reception plus jam session with event musicians; a post-show buffet; and one drink voucher. South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) is located at One SOPAC Way in South Orange, New Jersey.
The South Orange Performing Arts Center offers audiences exhilarating and diverse arts entertainment in its intimate venue, serving as the cultural heartbeat of the greater South Orange/Maplewood region and contributing to the economic and social vibrancy of its highly diverse community.
SOPAC is an accessible cultural destination that presents world-class artists in an intimate and welcoming environment. The Jennifer & Tony Leitner Performance Hall is a 439-seat mainstage theatre with superb acoustics, sight lines and seating. Audiences remark that performances in this space are like having their favorite artists right in their own living room. Artists acknowledge that the atmosphere encourages conversations with audiences. The Loft at SOPAC is a 2,185 square-foot multi-purpose space used for performances, rehearsals, classes, and special events.
The unique architecture of SOPAC’s building, which includes a stunning 3-story glass-enclosed atrium, is also home to the Herb + Milly Iris Gallery. Beyond the building, SOPAC co-produces local events such as South Orange Summer Nights and serves students and schools through its arts education residencies.
SOPAC is invested in arts education. SOPAC serves students and schools in our region through a School Performance Series, performing Arts Residencies and annual juried art exhibits entitled INSPIRED MINDS: Young Artist Exhibition and INSPIRING MINDS. SOPAC also collaborates with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts each year to host the Region 5 Poetry Out Loud competitions. The Seton Hall University Arts Council presents a diverse range of events at SOPAC with seasoned professionals, students, and faculty.
Nearly ten years in the making, SOPAC first opened its doors in 2006. South Orange Village Trustees, in partnership with Seton Hall University, envisioned SOPAC as the center of an ambitious redevelopment plan. Through visionary leadership and an unwavering commitment, SOPAC has become a cultural centerpiece for the region, an economic driver for the community, and a catalyst for artistic opportunity.
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