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 quickly became interested in swing. Soon he began studying swing 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 high school years, Eric was lucky enough to study with some of the Bay Area’s finest musicians and educators including Mary Fettig, Dann Zinn, Alex Murzyn and Paul Contos. In addition, he was fortunate to participate in many outstanding music programs that supported and nurtured his love for music. These included Northgate High School’s instrumental music program, the SFJAZZ high school programs and the California Jazz Conservatory (then known as Jazzschool) Studio Bands. These programs undoubtedly inspired Eric to pursue music. This path eventually led to his undergraduate studies at Berklee College of Music. Here’s Eric four years ago at Bird & Beckett: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyyc4XaNyVA. Imagine him today! No need to, really; just come out November 12th to hear!

During his time at Berklee, Eric had the opportunity to be mentored by a number of accomplished and renowned artists including Frank Tiberi, George Garzone, Dave Santoro, Jim Odgren and Tiger Okoshi. Eric was particularly blessed and honored to have had the opportunity to be instructed by Ralph Peterson, whose goal is to immerse his students in the music of Art Blakey and thus to pass on the legacy of the Jazz Messengers, the foundational group of so much jazz. Eric was the lead alto player of Ralph’s GenNext 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 Berklee, Eric recorded his debut album, “Introducing.” Released in April 2020, this album features all original compositions brought to life by an incredible band made up of some of Eric’s colleagues from Berklee. Eric has moved from Boston and now resides in the San Francisco Bay Area. Tonight, he’ll perform that original music and more.

Edward Evans is a jazz trumpeter and composer defined by his unique ability to push boundaries and his unmatched creativity. Having grown up in the Bay Area, Edward was fortunate to have studied with renowned musicians Mic Gilette and Dann Zinn. He then went on to earn his Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance at the University of Southern California under the tutelage of jazz masters Vince Mendoza and Ambrose Akinmusire. Edward performs regularly with the Electric Squeezebox Orchestra and on gigs all around the Bay Area. He’s been praised for his versatility of sound and has played in concerts with stellar artists including Terrance Blanchard, Alan Ferber, Mark Turner and Chris Potter.

Cyrus Campbell, an acoustic bass player from Santa Fe, New Mexico, attended Berklee College of Music, where he completed degrees in performance and jazz composition.  Currently residing in Oakland, he attempts to assimilate into the Bay Area improvised music scene. Success is assured.

Isaac Schwartz, an Oakland native, has honed his craft for the last 20 years playing at home and at school and touring the country and Europe with a rich variety projects. He has performed and taught at the California Jazz Conservatory, has played multiple sold out shows at the Sound Room in Oakland, and led his own band at Bird & Beckett not so long ago. He’s a fixture on the Bay Area music scene and is an essential cog in Illy Bogart, High Standards, The Family Jules Band, Nancy Wright and the Rhythm and Roots Band and Negative Press Project.

A statement from artist John Nakanishi:

Many, many moons ago, I studied at the Hartford Art School, University of Hartford, majoring in ceramics with a minor in filmmaking, but somehow ended up as a Chemical Engineer. I am also a competitive soccer coach and an avid ultra-runner.

But after over 25 years working in the field of engineering, raising kids and coaching, I found myself craving to get back to art. But no time! Then suddenly, at the end of 2019, I was laid off and I suddenly found that I had a lot of time on my hands! So I decided to “come out of retirement.”

2020 also brought a big shift when we were ordered to shelter-in-place. That meant even more time! So I cleared a space in my garage for an art studio and set to work pursuing my long lost passion.

Please visit my website: www.johnnakanishi.com, where I have a gallery of some of my past work, and as I complete pieces, I will be adding to a gallery of new work. It’s going pretty well and I am enjoying getting my hand back into painting. I hope you can enjoy my art as much as I enjoy making it!

John Nakanishi’s son, Eric, the saxophonist

There will be only a very few seats available tonight, as advance reservations have been strong for this one. Expectations are riding high for a terrific evening of jazz, with live on-the-spot painting in jazz time by John Nakanishi and all the excitement generated by the promise of an evening’s worth of original compositions performed by a stellar saxophonist. The evening is being recorded live for release, with John’s painting as the cover art. The caliber of the music and musicianship merit the exertion in every way.
People get ready!