Longhorn Jazz Festival

About the Artists

Lewis Nash

Universally recognized as one of the great drummers in jazz history, Lewis Nash has built an illustrious career that now spans over four decades. One of jazz’s most recorded musicians, Nash has appeared on over 500 recordings, including 10 GRAMMY winners and numerous GRAMMY nominees. A native of Phoenix, Arizona, Lewis first gained international recognition as a member of vocalist Betty Carter’s trio. In the years to follow, Nash toured, recorded, and performed with many of jazz’s most celebrated icons, and his resume reads like a “who’s who” of jazz royalty, including 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 many, many more. In 2012, The Nash, a jazz education center and performance venue named in Lewis’s honor, was established in his home town of Phoenix. It has been a focal point of the city’s jazz activity since its inception, and has been named consistently by Downbeat Magazine as a top jazz venue. 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, the Lewis Nash Scholarship Endowment was created by the university to be awarded annually to a deserving ASU undergraduate or graduate jazz performance student.

 Diego Rivera

A world-class musician, composer, arranger and educator, Diego Rivera has entertained audiences for over 20 years. Rivera is known for his muscular tone and unique blend of straight-ahead jazz fused with music inspired by his Chicano background and heritage.  Since 1999 he has performed at the most prestigious venues and festivals across the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. In addition to touring with his own ensemble, Rivera has performed with The Jazz @ Lincoln Center Orchestra w/ Wynton Marsalis, Ellis Marsalis, and Kurt Elling. Rivera has released 5 critically-acclaimed albums as a leader for Posi-Tone records. He also has several other credits to his name as a recording artist, composer and arranger on the Mack Avenue and Detroit Music Factory Record Labels. A passionate educator Rivera has presented masterclasses at schools and universities both in the United States and abroad. Several of Professor Rivera’s former students enjoy careers as professional musicians performing with artists such as: The Christian McBride Big Band, Birdland Big Band, and The Count Basie Orchestra.

Michael Sailors

Mike Sailors is a critically acclaimed trumpeter, valve trombonist and arranger who’s toured the world appearing at the most celebrated festivals in the world including The Tokyo Blue Note Jazz Festival, The Newport Jazz Festival, The EFG London Jazz Festival, The Montreal Jazz Festival, The Detroit Jazz Festival and the Ravinia Music Festival, to name a few. Sailors has received commissions and composed/arranged for Mack Avenue Records, Decca Records, Dewey Redman, Terrell Stafford, Dick Oatts, Jimmy Cobb, Lady Gaga, Sleep No More and many other organizations, jazz greats, entertainers and Broadway shows. He is a copyist for the Jazz at Lincoln Orchestra led by Wynton Marsalis, and former copyist for The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra led by Arturo O’Farrill.  Sailors leads The Mike Sailors Sextet and Nonet, The Higher Calling Orchestra, co-leads The New Alchemy Jazz Orchestra, and is a member of the GRAMMY nominated Multiverse Big Band, led by Bobby Sanabria while also maintaining a highly active freelance schedule locally and nationally.

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JAZZ ORCHESTRA

Genesis Staple, vocals

James Aspan-Martin, alto sax I
Matthew Chavez, alto sax II
Jerry Espinoza, tenor sax I
Dash Haubrich, tenor sax II
Aidan Brown, tenor sax

Santana Rojas, trumpet I
Rachel Spencer, trumpet II
Chris Cermak, trumpet III
Isaac Pittenger, trumpet IV

Jacob Martinez, trombone I
Kevin Hrabak, trombone II
Austin Dalbey, trombone III
Demetreis Thornton, bass trombone

Reuben Akins, guitar
Jakob Hartz, piano
Joseph Hernandez, piano
Aidan Berg, bass
Liam O’Dell, bass
Joshua Berry, drums & cymbals
Christian Torres, drums & cymbals
 

JAZZ ENSEMBLE

Connor Holt, alto sax I
Clayton Bristol, alto sax II
Michael Salas, tenor sax I
Kole Aitala, tenor sax II
Brady Goar, tenor sax

Will Paladino, trumpet I
Joseph Risberg, trumpet II
Dominic Bradbury, trumpet III
Mario Diaz, trumpet IV

Graham Simpler, trombone I
Yash Kukrecha, trombone II
Grayson Cliff, trombone III
Wade King, bass trombone

Andy Flores, guitar
Joao Camargo, piano
Eli Miller, bass
Annie Nguyen, bass
Collin McCord, drums
Harrison Murphy, drums
 

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