Lewis Nash Quintet jazzes up Miller

On Feb. 25, Miller Theatre presented the Lewis Nash Quintet as the last installation in its winter jazz series.

Nash, an Arizona native, began his drumming career touring internationally for famous jazz vocalist Betty Carter. With a discography of over 300 recordings, many of which are Grammy-nominated, Nash has performed alongside Bette Midler, Dizzy Gilespie, Natalie Cole, Branford Marsalis, and others. The rest of his quintet consists of pianist Renee Rosnes, bassist Dezron Douglas, saxophonist Jimmy Greene, and trumpet player Jeremy Pelt.

Foregoing any spoken introduction, the show began immediately after the lights dimmed. The members of the quintet assumed their positions while Nash started a musical vibe, shaking his maracas and drum brushes. Other than the colored lighting that changed depending on the mood of the song, the staging was untheatrical. The organic setup and the beautifully polished instruments helped bring the audience into the world of sophisticated jazz musicians. Even though the pianist’s back was turned to the audience, listeners were still drawn in by the music.

Nash spoke briefly at intervals. His conversational tone about the reason for each song made the performance intimate and comforting. At one point, Nash also took the microphone and delivered an impressive scat solo. The instrumentalists were just as surprised as the audience was by Nash’s successful imitation of the horn sounds.

Despite the quintet’s lengthy set, packed with almost two hours of jazz music and a long intermission, the audience got its money’s worth with both the quantity and the versatility of the jazz combo. The Lewis Nash Quintet’s bossa-nova rendition of “Ellington Strayhorn” was a definite crowd favorite. While the first song casually introduced the musicians, this homage to Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington exhibited the virtuosic nature of each player. Rosnes’ inventive piano solo, which combined well with Nash’s pulsing drum performance and the horn’s beautiful harmonies, made the piece really memorable.

The highlight of the jazz performance was Nash’s incredible drum solo in the jazz piece “Y La Quiero.” Nash’s masterful control over dynamics, tempo, and experimental drum sounds turned the solo into a dramatic spectacle. His intensity was palpable in his facial expressions and in the fervor with which he attacked the cymbals. The way he effortlessly switched drumsticks and put his elbow on the drum to change the sound of the pitch made it clear why he is famous.

The Lewis Nash Quintet’s performance entertained spectators with ballads and up-tempo bebop tunes. Although the crowd consisted mostly of elderly people, college jazz enthusiasts would have appreciated the quintet’s talented musicianship.