Cannonball! Eric Nakanishi Quintet plays Adderley
($15-$30 | 7pm & 9pm Shows) Eric Nakanishi and his quintet celebrate the enduring legacy of one of jazz’s most charismatic and influential figures. Cannonball Adderley, renowned for his exuberant alto saxophone playing, left an indelible mark on the world of jazz. His signature style seamlessly blended elements of hard bop, soul jazz, and R&B, creating a distinctive and infectious sound that resonated with audiences across genres. His collaborations with fellow luminaries like pianist Joe Zawinul and his brother, cornetist Nat Adderley, further elevated his impact on the jazz landscape. This tribute captures the spirit and brilliance of Adderley’s music, highlighting his remarkable ability to infuse soulful melodies with intricate improvisations and his pioneering role in expanding the boundaries of jazz.
Eric Nakanishi (alto sax)
Max Goldschmid (trumpet)
Angelo Versace (piano)
Scott Black (bass)
Arthur Vint (drums)
“Hard Bop Revisited!” offers a captivating journey into the lesser-known gems of Blue Note Records, showcasing the exceptional talents of legendary soloists and composers like Kenny Dorham, Hank Mobley, and Lee Morgan. These artists were at the forefront of the Hard Bop movement, a jazz subgenre that emerged in the late 1950s as a response to the cooler and more cerebral sounds of West Coast Jazz. With a renewed emphasis on rhythmic intensity, bluesy melodies, and a powerful sense of swing, these musicians breathed new life into the jazz scene.
Kenny Dorham’s nuanced trumpet work, Hank Mobley’s soulful saxophone expressions, and Lee Morgan’s fiery trumpet solos shine brightly in this collection. Their compositions offer a vibrant blend of innovation and tradition, as they fuse elements of bebop with the raw energy of R&B and gospel music. “Hard Bop Revisited!” not only resurrects these hidden treasures but also pays homage to the dynamic period of jazz history when these artists were pushing the boundaries of the genre. This compilation serves as a reminder of their indelible contributions and the enduring impact they had on shaping the course of jazz music.
**Eric Nakanishi**
Eric Nakanishi is an aspiring artist, saxophonist, and composer who was raised in Pleasant Hill, California. He began playing saxophone at age 9 in his local elementary school music program and soon began studying privately under the instruction of saxophonist and educator Marcus Goodlow, who would become the first of many important educators and mentors in Eric’s life. During his early years, Eric was lucky enough to study with some of the Bay Area’s finest musicians and educators including Mary Fettig, Dann Zinn, and Alex Murzyn. His musical path and experiences eventually led Eric to his undergraduate studies at Berklee College of Music.
During his time in Boston, Eric had the opportunity to be mentored and instructed by a number of accomplished and renowned artists, such as Frank Tiberi, George Garzone, Terence Blanchard, Shamie Royston, Dave Santoro, Tiger Okoshi, Billy Kilson, and Jim Odgren, to name a few. Eric was particularly blessed and honored to have been mentored by the late Ralph Peterson Jr., whose goal was to immerse his students in the music of Art Blakey and pass on the legacy of the Jazz Messengers. Eric played lead alto in Peterson’s “Gen-Next Big Band” and recorded two albums with the group: I Remember Bu: Alive Vol.4 at Scullers and Listen Up!, which featured Jazz Messenger alumni Donald Harrison and Frank Lacy.
After leaving school, Eric recorded his debut album, Introducing, at Chillhouse Studios in Boston. Released in April 2020, this debut album features all original compositions brought to life by an incredible band of colleagues and friends from Berklee. Shortly after the recording, Eric returned from Boston to the San Francisco Bay Area. In November 2021, he recorded his second album, released May 2022. Breakout! Nakanishi Quartet Live at Bird & Beckett is a live record featuring a chordless quartet made up of outstanding Bay Area musicians and friends. This special recording and performance included a simultaneous live-painting of the album’s cover artwork by Eric’s father, artist John Nakanishi. Eric currently resides in Tucson, Arizona.