Lewis Nash - It Don't Mean A Thing (2005)

For this session Lewis is accompanied by vibist Steve Nelson, pianist Jeb Patton and bassist Peter Washington. Most of the tunes are trio performances with drums, vibes and bass, with only three songs in a quartet formation with pianist Jeb Patton. There are a number of instances on this disc, where Nash as the leader plays some great solos, but never dominates. In addition, Steve Nelson is well featured playing in a crisp mid-tempo across many of the tracks. Meanwhile the driving rhythm of Peter Washington's running basslines push a tight sound are a standout. Not to overlook the comping of Jeb Patton adding further dynamism with differing chords, rhythms, and countermelodies. Overall, this album is a showcase of well-known jazz standards including "Skeeter Blues" by Nash, that that truly swing! 

M&I Jazz, MYCJ-30250, 2005
Recorded 2003? 

Musicians:
Lewis Nash - Drums
Steve Nelson - Vibraphone
Jeb Patton - Piano (#3,9,10)
Peter Washington - Bass 

Tracks:
01. It Don't Mean A Thing {Duke Ellington, Irving Mills} (6:56)
02. Caravan {Duke Ellington, Juan Tizol} (9:27)
03. Sophisticated Lady {Duke Ellington} (6:44)
04. Tico Tico {Zequinha de Abreu} (4:08)
05. Strollin' {Horace Silver} (5:25)
06. Body And Soul {Green, Heyman, Sour, Eyton} (7:13)
07. Close Your Eyes {Bernice Petkere} (6:01)
08. How Insensitive {Antônio Carlos Jobim} (5:27)
09. We'll Be Together Again {Carl T. Fischer, Frankie Laine} (5:11)
10. Skeeter Blues {Lewis Nash} (3:41) 

Total Time: 60:13 

Producer - Makoto Kimata, Todd Barkan 

"Everything depends on how daring you want to be," he said. "Parameters exist in any musical situation, and they force you to get the most from the least. You try not to limit yourself to 'this is how you're supposed to play this kind of music.' You jump in, let your ears dictate, and keep all options on the table. I might borrow some sound or approach from an avant garde context that works in the middle of trading fours on a blues. Sound can cross genres and styles. It's just a sound. It's your job to figure out how to use that sound tastefully and in context. The more things you've done, the more you'll be able to interject something new." ~ Lewis Nash.