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Paul Nash

The Triumph of Life and Legacy

"My life has been given sudden definition
An end point that I can almost prepare for
At once frightening and magnificent..."
Paul Nash Diary, December 28 2003

The measure of a person's life can be seen in the impact they have on other lives and how they handle the often grim vagaries of life. In the face of one's own mortality, the entirety of emotions and fears can be overwhelming. Many though decide to soldier on and concern themselves with the time they have left, the mark they leave behind; with the story of how they inhabited this life and walked the earth.

Paul Nash, composer, educator and jazz guitarist, has written such a life story. After earning degrees in both jazz and classical composition, he created the 10-piece Paul Nash Ensemble in 1977. The group included trumpeter Mark Isham who, influenced by Nash's genre of morphing ideas, created New Age music for Windham Hill Records and become a Grammy and Academy Award nominated soundtrack composer. Nash also helped to organize the Bay Area Jazz Composers Orchestra, an ensemble that explored the merging of jazz and classical music. This group featured notable musicians such as trumpet player Tom Harrell, and vibist David Samuels.

In 1990 he moved back to New York and founded the Manhattan New Music Project (MNMP), which brought together various new music performers, including French horn innovator Tom Varner, and unsung guitar great Vic Juris, among others. Under the MNMP umbrella, Nash wrote chamber music, orchestral pieces and playful avant garde compositions inspired by John Cage and Karlheinz Stockhausen.

After discovering he had a fatal brain tumor, Nash determined to stamp a legacy to his lifelong career, "...for the prize of life itself (is) the excitement of creation no matter who hears a piece." With the help of producer Julia Reinhart he set about creating his musical legacy. One part of this is the organization and re-mastering of his earlier compositional works which are to be released in a seven- part retrospective series.

The other is a two-CD project, one of which you have before you, meant to represent the definitive works that sum up his musical journey. The first CD "Jazz Cycles" is a work that takes the listener through the development of various jazz styles based on musical elements explored and developed over a 30-year period. The second "Avant Noir" is a ten-composition work that combines avant garde jazz with the familiar sound and feel of soundtracks from old film noir movies. On both works, Paul is accompanied by a special group of performers associated with MNMP, including ...

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109
Album Review

Paul Nash - The Manhattan New Music Project: The Soul Of Grace

Read "The Soul Of Grace" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


Guitarist/composer Paul Nash is the artistic director for the band he organized back in 1990 known as “The Manhattan New Music Project”. Here, Nash directs an aggregate of jazz luminaries such as trumpeter Jack Walrath, french hornist/composer Tom Varner, bass trombonist David Taylor and others for a thoroughly impressive project titled, The Soul Of Grace. Throughout this rather jubilant large ensemble affair, Nash shines as a strong composer/arranger while exhibiting finely honed skills as a guitarist who makes every note ...

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112

Performance / Tour

Paul Nash Jazz Cycles Tonight Wednesday, January 23rd at the Iridium Jazz Club Sets at 8:30 & 10:30PM

Paul Nash Jazz Cycles Tonight Wednesday, January 23rd at the Iridium Jazz Club Sets at 8:30 & 10:30PM

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

Paul Nash Jazz Cycles Wednesday, January 23rd At IRIDIUM JAZZ CLUB 1650 BROADWAY (Corner of 51st) NEW YORK, NY 10023 RESERVATIONS: 212-582-2121 Sets At 8:30 & 10:30PM Featuring Kenny Rampton (trumpet) Bruce Williamson (soprano & alto sax) Tim Ries (tenor sax) Mick Rossi (piano) Vic Juris (guitar) Jeff Carney (bass) Grisha Alexiev (drums)

125

Performance / Tour

Mingus Legacy (Tue) Paul Nash Jazz Cycles (Wed) Jan. 21-27 David "Fathead" Newman 75th Birthday All-Stars at the Iridium Jazz Club

Mingus Legacy (Tue) Paul Nash Jazz Cycles (Wed)  Jan. 21-27 David "Fathead" Newman 75th Birthday All-Stars at the Iridium Jazz Club

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

IRIDIUM JAZZ CLUB 1650 BROADWAY (Corner of 51st) NEW YORK, NY 10023 RESERVATIONS: 212-582-2121 Sets At 8:30 & 10:30PM EVERY TUESDAY MINGUS LEGACY Sets at 8:30 & 10:30PM This Tuesday, January 21, 2008 Mingus Big Band Jan. 23 PAUL NASH JAZZ CYCLES Kenny Rampton (trumpet) Bruce Williamson (soprano & alto sax) Tim Ries (tenor sax) Mick Rossi (piano) ...

116

Performance / Tour

Paul Nash Jazz Cycles Wednesday, January 23rd at the Iridium Jazz Club Sets at 8:30 & 10:30PM

Paul Nash Jazz Cycles Wednesday, January 23rd at the Iridium Jazz Club Sets at 8:30 & 10:30PM

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

Paul Nash Jazz Cycles Wednesday, January 23rd At IRIDIUM JAZZ CLUB 1650 BROADWAY (Corner of 51st) NEW YORK, NY 10023 RESERVATIONS: 212-582-2121 Sets At 8:30 & 10:30PM Featuring Kenny Rampton (trumpet) Bruce Williamson (soprano & alto sax) Tim Ries (tenor sax) Mick Rossi (piano) Vic Juris (guitar) Jeff Carney (bass) Grisha Alexiev (drums)

113

Performance / Tour

Paul Nash "Jazz Cycles" CD Release Event at Cachaca Jazz & Samba Club Wednesday, October 17th

Paul Nash "Jazz Cycles" CD Release Event at Cachaca Jazz & Samba Club Wednesday, October 17th

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

Paul Nash Jazz Cycles CD Release Event Wednesday October 17th 6:30pm - 8:30pm Cachaca Jazz & Samba Club 35 West 8th Street New York (212) 388-9099 Band: Shane Endsley (trumpet) Bruce Williamson (soprano & alto sax) Tim Ries (tenor sax) Jim Ridl (piano) Vic Juris (guitar) Jeff Carney (bass) Grisha Alexiev (drums) New CD Paul Nash ...

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Recording

MNMP Records Signs Deals for Paul Nash 'Jazz Cycles' CD

MNMP Records Signs Deals for Paul Nash 'Jazz Cycles' CD

Source: MusicDish Network

MNMP Records has signed distribution deals for the soon-to-be released full length album by Manhattan New Music Project performs Paul Nash: Jazz Cycles. Jazz Cycles is the first of two CDs meant to represent the definitive works that sum up the musical journey of the late jazz composer and performer Paul Nash. Cadence North Country will distribute the CD to stores across the U.S. starting October 2nd, while German-based finetunes will provide digital distribution in major and specialized ...

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Obituary

Jazz and New Music Composer Paul Nash Dies at Age 56

Jazz and New Music Composer Paul Nash Dies at Age 56

Source: All About Jazz


Paul Nash was a gifted jazz composer with an original voice. When Paul lost his battle with brain cancer in 2005, the world lost a visionary with a unique harmonic sense and a passion for infectious, driving rhythms. The recordings on this CD are the last Paul produced with his ensemble, the Manhattan New Music Project, but the material in this set has been developed over many years. These pieces have a richness which makes them worth playing and hearing many times over. Paul's compositions were orchestrated with compelling accompaniments and background figures that inspired his soloists to greater heights

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