The Nashville Jazz Orchestra and City Winery Nashville present the Nashville Industry Music Awards (NIMA) Best of Jazz Winners for 2016 in concert on Sunday, November 27.
The NJO was named Best Jazz Group, and joining the NJO as special guests for this event will be NIMA-named Best Jazz Vocalist Dara Tucker and Best Jazz Instrumentalist Rahsaan Barber.
Dara Tucker
Vocalist Dara Tucker is also a composer and has released three studio albums; “All Right Now”, “Soul Said Yes” and “The Sun Season” as well as a limited-release, live performance album, “Dara Tucker Live” in 2013.
Tucker was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma as the third of seven children to music minister and gospel recording artist, Doyle Tucker and singer Lynda Tucker. She started out singing harmony at the age of 4 with her brothers and sisters, and began playing the piano at age 8. She traveled the country singing with her family for most of her childhood. Dara’s family spent time in Spokane, Washington, Detroit, Michigan, Fayetteville, Arkansas, Pasadena, California and Baltimore, Maryland. She and her brothers and sisters, known as “The Tuckers” were known for their rich harmonies and seamless blend.
Rahsaan Barber
Downbeat Magazine had this to say about Rahsaan Barber: “Rahsaan Barber can flat-out play the saxophone. He can also flat-out compose and arrange.”
Since earning a Master’s Degree in Jazz Performance from Manhattan School of Music in 2005, Barber has set out on a singular path of musical excellence in performance, composition, and education. Residing proudly in his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, Barber enjoys a career that encompasses an ever-expanding range of musical styles including his first love – jazz, as well as blues, funk, classical, fusion, soul, Latin and World music. Rahsaan’s passionate, sincere and studious approach to music-making has garnered professional appearances onstage with heavyweights including The Temptations, Delfeayeo Marsalis, Shelly Fairchild, Duffy Jackson, Winard Harper, Kirk Franklin, Bobby Sanabria, and the Wooten Brothers. The saxophonist has performed on many of the world’s most prestigious stages for jazz including the Village Vanguard, Birdland, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and at The Montreux Jazz Festival.
For this event, doors open at 5:00 pm, and the downbeat is at 6:00 pm. City Winery Nashville is located at 609 Lafayette Street. Tickets are just $15, all general admission. Order at www.CityWinery.com/Nashville.