Jonathan Starks with Birdseed at The Nash

7:30pm – 10:00pm; Jonathan Stark-drums, Chris Light-alto sax, Eric Rasmussen-alto sax, Alex Oliverio-guitar, Ben Hedquist-bass. BIRDSEED
Jonathan Starks has become a household name in the ever-growing Phoenix jazz community. Currently on summer break, residing in Mesa, he will be returning to Boston’s New England Conservatory of Music to begin his sophomore year in the upcoming fall. Jonathan has been studying under the tutelage of the gurus, Jabali Billy Hart, and Rakalam Bob Moses and has spent the last year working very hard on their disciplines and teachings. The name “Birdseed” was forged during this past brutal Boston winter from the stream-of-consciousness of fellow NEC student, Travis Bliss...

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7:30pm – 10:00pm; Jonathan Stark-drums, Chris Light-alto sax, Eric Rasmussen-alto sax, Alex Oliverio-guitar, Ben Hedquist-bass. BIRDSEED
Jonathan Starks has become a household name in the ever-growing Phoenix jazz community. Currently on summer break, residing in Mesa, he will be returning to Boston’s New England Conservatory of Music to begin his sophomore year in the upcoming fall. Jonathan has been studying under the tutelage of the gurus, Jabali Billy Hart, and Rakalam Bob Moses and has spent the last year working very hard on their disciplines and teachings. The name “Birdseed” was forged during this past brutal Boston winter from the stream-of-consciousness of fellow NEC student, Travis Bliss. Simply existing as comic relief at first, “Birdseed” soon became a label for Mr. Starks because it represents his personality, musical attitude, and deep affiliation with the music of Charlie “Bird” Parker, the man of the hour. Jonathan has decided to name the band for the evening after “Birdseed” to build the bridge between Jonathan’s two musical homes on the East and West, and to represent the “tribute” that is to be made to Mr. Parker. Speaking of the band, it consists of a cast of Phoenix heavy hitters: Chris Light and Eric Rasmussen on Alto Saxophones, Ben Hedquist on bass, and Alex Oliverio on guitar, who will be departing Phoenix 3 days after the show, to go on and tackle the great city of Seattle. The band will play a broad selection of Charlie Parker masterpieces covering the entire spectrum of interpretation, from “straight-swinging” to “existential grooves” all the way to “post-modern” jazz. It will be an unforgettable night for sure. B.Y.O.B., www.thenash.org, (602) 795-0464.

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