The annual Jazz Legends Live! concert series was founded by Al and Marilyn Cook 13 years ago.
The Friday, Sept. 23 concert will honor Al Cook, who passed away earlier this year.
Sponsored by the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance, the event is dedicated to Cook’s memory and the couple’s more than 15 years of service to SAACA and its predecessor, the Greater Oro Valley Arts Council.
“I’ve known Al for years,” says drummer Lewis Nash, selected by Cook in 2015 to put together this year’s band. “To me it was especially important to include some players Al knew very well.”
Every year the Legends concert features a different quintet and vocalist. In 2012 Nash was also the leader, bringing a different set of players here.
This year features Shelly Berg, piano, Houston Person, tenor sax, Jeremy Pelt, trumpet, Rodney Whitaker, bass, and Barbara Morrison, vocalist.
People are also reading…
“Al always liked having a vocalist,” Lewis remembered. “Barbara is the best in blues and jazz.” In 2010, National Public Radio named her one of the “50 Greatest Jazz Vocalists.”
Nash’s own resume includes more than 300 recordings with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Peterson, Nancy Wilson, Kenny Rankin and Diana Krall.”
However, it is the classic American song book that holds the most enduring magic for Nash. Plan on hearing a number of those favorites.
“Jazz is a living art form that is best experienced live, just like theater,” said Nash. “The older I get, the more I discover in these songs.”
“Yes, I knew Al very well,” said Shelly Berg. “We were always seeing each other on jazz cruises, at jazz festivals and concerts. Everywhere.
“And he was always talking about jazz. He was so passionate about it. And he was very interested in passing that love along to the younger generation.”
Berg shares that devotion to the future. While his resume includes playing with a who’s who of jazz giants, he is also Dean of the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami.
“I love chord changes and beautiful melodies. The whole classic American song book is built on just 12 or 13 different progressions, but when the right melody, lyrics, chords and rhythm come together something special happens.
“Every song becomes a 32-bar haiku that everyone can feel. There will be lots of smiles on that bandstand.”
Nash will have a more special smile. It was at the Jazz Legends concert in 2012 that he met the person who would become his wife, Maya.
“Al was introducing me to different people he thought I should meet, and Maya was one. She’s now the SAACA board president,” he added proudly.
Chuck Graham has written about the Tucson arts scene for more than 30 years.
