The Nash, a jazz education and performance center on Roosevelt Row, is expanding the venue next door and creating the Nash Education Annex to give aspiring musicians more space to practice and perform.
“It was always in our plans so we could have more diverse educational activities and more than one activity at a time,” said Joel Goldenthal, the executive director of Jazz in AZ, the nonprofit community-arts organization that opened the Nash last year. “The educational annex has three multipurpose rooms that can be used for big band breakouts, coaching and private lessons.”
Construction for the education annex started in March after the walls that separated the two buildings, near Roosevelt and First streets, were broken down and will be finished in May, Goldenthal said.
Goldenthal said the opening of the education annex would be celebrated with a short educational course taught by two of the Valley’s jazz educators — Dom Moio, a professional drummer, and Will Goble, a professional bassist and composer.
Other courses will cover topics such as Latin jazz, playing in a rhythm section, creative practicing techniques and free improvisation, all taught by jazz performers and educators.
Goldenthal also pointed out that the Nash is one stop away from the light rail station, which makes it accessible to people all over the Valley.
“The educational facility itself will offer an educational resource to the community,” Goldenthal said. “And the Nash in general offers a cool experience to be introduced to and enjoy jazz in a very comfortable environment that was designed to enjoy the music without the distractions you’d find in a bar or restaurant.”
The expansion of the Nash is being funded by donations, charitable support from foundations and ticket revenue from past events, Goldenthal said.
“We’re looking for funding all the time so we can sustain our mission of cultivating the next generation of jazz musicians,” he said.
While there is no exact date set for the opening, Goldenthal said the list of summer programs will be made available on their website near the end of April. Classes will start toward the end of May, he said.
Besides a new building, the Nash is forming new partnerships with local jazz organizations like City Jazz, a big band program for middle and high school students and KJZZ Radio.
“We formed a relationship because we’re both trying to promote jazz in the community and keep jazz alive in the Phoenix area,” said Bill Shedd, the associate general manager of KJZZ. “We’ve secured a sound booth, so once we get that up and running we can record performances at the Nash and broadcast them back.”
Shedd said the partnership benefits both the Nash and KJZZ because performers at the former can have their music played on the radio and the latter will have an opportunity to interact with some of their listeners.
“It’s great for KJZZ’s community involvement,” Shedd said.
The other partnership with City Jazz will enable the big band program’s participants to rehearse and perform in a professional jazz venue. After construction is finished, all City Jazz rehearsals will be held at the Nash, Goldenthal said.
“This gives us an amazing space for the program and gives the kids the opportunity to experience the on goings and performance aspect of a professional jazz club,” said Joseph Benesh, the operations manager for the Phoenix Center for the Arts.
“It elevates the quality that we can present to the students and gives them the opportunity to rehearse and perform in Phoenix’s best jazz club,” Benesh said.
While the Nash’s new programs have yet to be finalized, Goldenthal said the Nash would have a wide variety of jazz programs for student musicians to choose from. Those students will also have a say in which programs become permanent.
“We’ll be looking for community feedback as we decide on our ongoing programs,” Goldenthal said.
Contact the reporter at jasmine.barta@asu.edu
