SEMJA Presents a Tribute to Michael G. Nastos
The Southeastern Michigan Jazz Association (SEMJA) will pay tribute to Michael G. Nastos on Sunday, November 20, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., at Kehrl Auditorium in the VisTaTech Center at Schoolcraft College (18600 Haggerty Rd.) in Livonia. Nastos will be receiving the Ron Brooks Award from SEMJA for his many lifelong contributions to the jazz community as a broadcaster, writer and musician.
The tribute will feature musical performances by two groups made up of some of the area’s best jazz players: the Spangler/Paxton Quintet and RB3+2, led by Ron Brooks.
The Spangler/Paxton Quintet is led by drummer RJ Spangler and trombonist John “Tbone” Paxton, some of the busiest musicians in Metro Detroit, who have worked together for many years in groups like the Planet D Nonet and the Sun Messengers. Completing the quintet are Matt LoRusso on guitar, Kurt Krahnke on bass, and Akunda Hollis on percussion. Sitting in will be saxophonists Paul VornHagen and Vincent York.
The Ron Brooks group is made up of Vincent Bowens on tenor sax, Rayse Biggs on trumpet, Gary Schunk on piano, Brooks on bass, Djallo Djakate on drums and will play the music of the CJQ and Eddie Russ. Brooks was one of the original members of the CJQ (The Contemporary Jazz Quintet) that recorded in the sixties for the world renowned Blue Note label and was celebrated at this year’s Detroit Jazz Festival.
LEFT: Ron Brooks at the Detroit Jazz Festival 2016
CENTER:
John “Tbone” Paxton at Kerrytown Concert House 2016
RIGHT:
Vince Bowens and Rayse Biggs at the Detroit Jazz Festival 2016
For many years Michael G. Nastos was a familiar radio voice to listeners of WEMU-FM in Ypsilanti, WCBN in Ann Arbor and other area stations since the 1970s. He was an award-winning jazz writer for the Ann Arbor News for fifteen years and has worked for the All Media Music Guide as a reviewer and editor since the 1990s. Nastos has also contributed major international music publications, including Hot House magazine, Down Beat, Cadence, Big City Blues, Coda, Swing Journal, Jazz Journal International, and Jazz Forum. His recognition as a major jazz writer is indicated by his participation in the Down Beat Critics Poll for more than thirty years.
Nastos has been and remains an important jazz activist: he was a founding member of both Eclipse Jazz (University of Michigan) and SEMJA; moreover, he has worked in a number of capacities at the Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz Festival, the Frog Island Music Festival, the Brighton Jazz and Blues Festival, the Detroit Jazz Festival, and the Michigan Jazz Festival. Michael is also a percussionist who studied under Morris Lawrence and William Revelli, among others, and has played and recorded with many local musicians.
SEMJA’s Ron Brooks Award is given regularly to Detroit musicians, educators, broadcasters, or writers who have made significant contributions to the jazz community. Previous awardees include Ernie Rodgers, Louis Smith, George Benson, Kenn Cox, Matt Michaels, Bess Bonnier, Ed Love and Hazen Schumacher.
This tribute will be a fundraiser for the non-profit SEMJA organization. The suggested contribution will be $20 at the door. One can also pay in advance with a check made out to SEMJA and sent to 712 East Ann St., Ann Arbor MI 48104, or by credit card online.
This fundraiser is made possible with the generous support of the Department of Music at Schoolcraft College, the Michigan Jazz Festival, and WEMU — as well as the participating musicians listed above.
Questions can be addressed by calling 734-668-7470