In April of 2012, saxophonist Damani Phillips, Hammond organist Pat Bianchi, trumpeter Greg Gisbert and legendary drummer Lewis Nash came together for the very first time to record an album under Phillips’s name titled “The Reckoning". We're pleased to be reuniting for 2 great shows in the state of Iowa - the first at The Mill in Iowa City (Fri. March 24th) and a second at Noce in Des Moines (Sat. March 25th). Hailing from NYC, Gisbert, Bianchi and Nash are each internationally recognized as leaders in jazz on their respective instruments. Together with Phillips, this group creates music that exudes energy and soulfulness; striking an exciting balance between musical substance and accessibility. Please consider joining us for a night of hard-hitting jazz the likes of which is rarely experienced in the Midwest! These shows will be recorded with plans of creating a new live jazz album recorded exclusively in Iowa music venues. So in addition to coming out to hear this stellar group, come be a part of a new live album recording, too! Copies of the group’s last album “The Reckoning” will be available the day of the show for only $8 for physical copies and $5 for digital download cards.
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Damani Philips is a native of Pontiac, MI. He serves as Asst. Prof. of Jazz at the University of Iowa, where he teaches coursework in Jazz and Af-Am Music. He has earned BM and MM degrees from DePaul University and The University of Kentucky in classical sax; and a second Master of Music degree in jazz studies from Wayne State University. In 2009, Phillips completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Jazz Studies at the University of Colorado at Boulder; becoming one of the first African-Americans in the country to earn this degree. An active performer, pedagogue and composer, Phillips has taught and performed throughout the United States, England and Japan. Phillips has performed with artists/groups such as Christian McBride, Terrence Blanchard, Dianne Reeves, Marcus Belgrave, Terrell Stafford, Maceo Parker, --The Temptations, and Red Holloway among others.
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Lewis Nash is renowned as a master stylist, particularly in be- bop and post-bop styles, Nash is seemingly at home in a wide range of stylistic territory, including funk, free, and latin based jazz styles, and his versatility has made him one of the most in demand drummers of the past two decades. Nash is known for his seemingly endless depth of melodic vocabulary, drawing from all eras of jazz percussion, while adding his own unmistakably identifiable approach to the construction of his comping figures and soloing. This identifiable voice puts Nash on a shortlist of drummers of the past 20 years, who have managed to incorporate the important traditions of American jazz music without overshadowing their individuality.
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Pat Bianchi currently lives in NYC, and is one of the most talented B3 players on the scene today. His music is often described as fiery, intense and moving. Joey DeFrancesco was recently quoted as saying, “This young man is an incredible musician regardless of the instrument but as far as playing the organ goes, Pat is one of the finest players, if not the finest I've heard in recent years to touch the instrument.” Downbeat magazine writes, “Pat Bianchi demonstrates a strong sense of personal identity that bodes well for his continued success. He is able to look to the future while still honoring the tradition.” Pat frequently tours with Lou Donaldson and Pat Martino in addition to being a regular member of Tim Warfield’s “Organ Quintet” and co-leader of the “Unity Project” with drummer Ralph Peterson.
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Fiery, honest, and maniacally talented, Greg Gisbert hit the national jazz scene at an early age and seems to have been on the road ever since. He ventured forth from his childhood home in Denver to attend Berklee, but soon found himself wandering around a tour bus dodging insults from Buddy Rich. He eventually settled in New York, and over the years has been an integral player with the Woody Herman Orchestra, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Horace Silver, Maynard Ferguson, Bobby Shew, Maria Schneider, John Fedchok, and the Smithsonian, Carnegie Hall, and Vanguard Big Bands. In addition to also recording with most of these groups, Greg also has three CD’s out as a leader on the Criss Cross label, with such notable sidemen as Billy Drummond, Chris Potter, and Gregory Hutchinson.