Nate Najar talks about Europe, a new CD, and his band for this year’s Jazz Holiday

How fast the years fly – our young jazz guitarist, Nate Najar, is suddenly celebrating the 11th anniversary of his Jazz Holiday show. That’s two years longer than I’ve been at the Palladium.

 

Over the years the show has become a much-loved holiday tradition in St. Petersburg and among Tampa Bay’s jazz fans. This version of Nate Najar’s Jazz Holiday happens on Thursday, Dec. 15 at 7:30 p.m. I am not exaggerating when I saw that tickets are going fast. This could be the biggest audience in the history of the series – beating last year’s 10-anniversary extravaganza.

 

To get you ready for it, I chatted this week with Nate. Here’s some of that conversation:

 

Palladium Paul: This is the 11^th anniversary of your holiday jazz show. You were 15 when they started so that makes you now…?

 

Nate Najar: Very funny.  Although I do seem to be aging at a more accelerated rate- and I’m sort OK with that.

 

PP: The audience always loves the special jazz guests you bring in. Tell me a little about Molly Ryan and Dan Levinson?

 

NN: Molly and Dan are terrific.  Molly is one of the finest young singers on the scene today, and a sweetheart too.  Last December, she was featured in a fairly expansive spread in Vanity Fair Magazine highlighting the young jazz musicians in NY who are making a real impact on the music.  She has such a beautiful, pure tone to her voice and wonderfully natural phrasing –  she always sounds like she’s singing directly to you.  You’ve heard her on TV if you’ve watched Boardwalk Empire, she has been featured a bunch on the soundtracks.

 

In addition to being Molly’s husband, Dan Levinson is one of the most lyrical reed players in NY.  He is equally swinging and stunningly beautiful on clarinet and saxophone and I particularly enjoy how his lyrical approach blends so well with my classical guitar.  Stylistically speaking, with the trends in the jazz world as they are, I am relieved that there are still guys like Dan Levinson out there, intent on swinging with conviction and delivering a melody like he means it.

 

This sort of playing reminds me of a real fun story the late Ray Kennedy told me a few years ago- Ray was playing with John Pizzarelli’s trio at the time and they were doing a special program at Carnegie Hall honoring George Shearing.  Pizz had called a ridiculously fast tempo on some tune and Ray played the heck out of it as he does.  Now Ray and Shearing were good friends, and when they came off the stand, George grabbed him by the arm and said “That was very impressive young man, but I shall lay waste to you on a ballad.”  Ray was one of the most facile and lyrical pianists I have ever heard, and I miss him dearly.  I may have gone off topic for a moment, but that Shearing quote always sticks with me and when I think of Dan’s beautiful playing I am reminded of Shearing’s words.

 

Dan Levinson is also one of the busiest reedmen in NY, playing a number of name ensembles plus leading his own groups.  He is a member of Vince Giordano’s Nighthawks and is featured on a great amount of soundtrack work including the Grammy winning Boardwalk Empire, The Aviator and many others.  We’re very lucky Dan and Molly could fit our little ‘burg into their schedule and I’m excited at how much fun the show is going to be.
PP: You’ve also got three Palladium favorites – James Suggs, John amb and Mark Feinman – with you that night. There are lots of good musicians to choose from in this area – why them?

 

NN: Why mess with perfection? The Lamb is one of the most important musical figures of my life and whether he intended or not, is responsible for a whole lot of my musical development.  When I perform, especially at the Palladium, I expect to have him right there off my left hand.  He gives me great support and at the same time kicks me in the ass and keeps me in line.  It’s a good system we have.  I have a brother, and we are very close, but James Suggs is the other brother that I never knew I had.  It’s so nice to have that additional voice in the ensemble and James is so effortless to play with.  We make joyful music together and that is how it should be.  And as for Mark Feinman, well, as far as I’m concerned he is the only drummer in town.  What a spirit!  Mark is completely enthusiastic about everything 100% of the time, and when downbeat comes, he delivers.  The Lamb and Mark have a very good musical rapport too and that is extremely important, especially when you have a band like this that consists of very strong personalities.
PP: 2016 was a big year for you – with tours in Europe, dates at Ronnie Scott’s, a new album in the works and a marriage – what does 2017 look like for Nate?

 

 

 

NN: More of the same! My new album, This is Nate Najar, was released in the UK back in September and it is coming out in the US in January, so there will be a bit of support for that.  The new record also has an official release in France in January.  I just found out about that and am very excited as we’ll do some trio shows in Paris as well.  It looks like I’ll be back at Ronnie’s later next year too.  And I’ve been filling in for Greg Carmichael in Acoustic Alchemy, which has been a real treat for me, and there is a summer tour on the books for that.  Also very exciting, we’ve booked some dates for my new Great Guitars Of Jazz package which features me, Larry Coryell and Russell Malone.  There are so many musical possibilities!  I had better go practice!

 

For tickets and show info call our box office at 727 822-3590 or follow this link to our website. See you at the show!