Had an amazing weekend leading the Jazz for Young People program at Rose Hall. The theme of the program was “What is the Big Band Era?” And with the help of the JLCO and special guests - my father Dick Nash, vocalist Charanee Wade, and Lindy Hoppers Roddy Caravella and Eden Atencio - we definitely answered that question.
There were so many special connections yesterday. First, my cousin Lisa (Ted Nash’s daughter) came from Massachusetts and brought her adorable daughter Keana. So happens that Ted Nash (my Uncle) was mentioned in the program, in connection with Leap Frog, a hit from Ted’s days with Les Brown. After the second show yesterday, I got into a passionate discussion with Billy Banks, our ever-enthusiastic, always positive, stage manager. We talked, and talked some more, about an idea to present a program at Rose with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, featuring music from the movies. My dad could come in and play some of those beautiful themes he played with Mancini, or Johnny Mandel, who could bring in his arrangements and conduct the orchestra.
Later that night, in the lobby of the Empire Hotel, on the way out after hanging out with my dad and a bunch of friends and family up in his room, we ran into - guess who...Johnny Mandel! He was just arriving from the airport. After spending about 40 minutes on the phone helping Johnny get his lost bag back, we got him to knock on my Dad’s door claiming to be delivering ice. What a beautiful reunion!
There were so many special connections yesterday. First, my cousin Lisa (Ted Nash’s daughter) came from Massachusetts and brought her adorable daughter Keana. So happens that Ted Nash (my Uncle) was mentioned in the program, in connection with Leap Frog, a hit from Ted’s days with Les Brown. After the second show yesterday, I got into a passionate discussion with Billy Banks, our ever-enthusiastic, always positive, stage manager. We talked, and talked some more, about an idea to present a program at Rose with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, featuring music from the movies. My dad could come in and play some of those beautiful themes he played with Mancini, or Johnny Mandel, who could bring in his arrangements and conduct the orchestra.
Later that night, in the lobby of the Empire Hotel, on the way out after hanging out with my dad and a bunch of friends and family up in his room, we ran into - guess who...Johnny Mandel! He was just arriving from the airport. After spending about 40 minutes on the phone helping Johnny get his lost bag back, we got him to knock on my Dad’s door claiming to be delivering ice. What a beautiful reunion!
