Bruce Dudley's 5 Piece feat. McGaha, Frahm, Thompson & Estes

Pianist Bruce Dudley leads a stellar quintet with Nashville's top elite jazz musicians, including Rod McGaha on trumpet, Joel Frahm on saxophone, Chester Thompson on drums and Jon Estes on bass.

Bruce Dudley is a Steinway Concert Artist and has been performing jazz piano for over 40 years on concert stages, in clubs, and private residences throughout North and South America. He specializes in the Great American Songbook, as well as in the rich history of American jazz styles, from Ragtime and Stride to Modernism, Post Modernism, and performance of original music. In addition to his work as a solo artist, he leads a trio, quartet, and larger ensembles, with horns and/or strings, while also enlisting the award winning voice of his wife, Sandra Dudley. An active educator, Dudley has presented clinics across Canada, the United States, and in Colombia, South America. His recordings as a leader include DPSW Quartet - Live at the Cave (2019), The Solo Sessions (2012), Mostly Monk (2010), and Semblance (1997). Dudley has also performed with artists Aretha Franklin, Crystal Gayle, Nelson Riddle Orchestra, Herb Ellis, Randy Brecker, Little Anthony and the Imperials, the Ink Spots, and has played keyboards for over 35 touring Broadway shows, including Beautiful, Wicked, Jersey Boys, Guys and Dolls, Grease, Fiddler on the Roof, Legally Blonde, among others. Bruce Dudley has published articles for Downbeat magazine and presented scholarly research at conferences in the Netherlands, Canada, and the United States. His book 25 Piano Etudes in Idiomatic Styles was published in 2021 by Keuka Waters Music. Dudley is Associate Professor of Music at Belmont University. He has a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Colorado, a Master of Music in Jazz Performance from the Eastman School of Music, and a Bachelor of Science in Music Business and Technology from New York University.

"As the leader, Dudley set the evening’s tone with a supple, rich blend of assertive melodic statements, delightful accompaniment, first-rate phrasing, counterpoint and harmonizing." Ron Wynn - ArtsNash

"Dudley, whose fluent lines jet around the keyboard, absorbing motifs into the stream, without a split second of hesitation, at any point of rhythm in the bar, are stunning to listen to…" HALIFAX CHRONICLE HERALD

"Dudley plays the piano with such grace and authority that he has quietly become the pianists that other pianists go to hear." HOUSTON POST

For more than 30 years, Joel Frahm lived in New York City, working in jazz clubs, collaborating with other musicians, and honing his craft. He now lives in Nashville, where he continues to play the music he loves. His bold, inventive tenor sound has won fans in the U.S. and across the world. He has worked alongside Betty Carter, Kenny Barron, Freddy Cole, Dianne Schuur, Kurt Elling, Jane Monheit, Bill Charlap, Brad Mehldau, Matt Wilson, Cyrille Aimee, and many other top artists. He has played as a leader or sideman on more than 100 recordings and has appeared at jazz festivals in the United States, Europe, Israel, Canada and South America. In addition to his work as a performer, he has taught jazz classes in clinics at the University of North Carolina, the University of Connecticut, New York University, Wichita State University, the University of North Texas, Baylor University, Colorado State University, Furman University, the University of Toronto, the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, the University of Manitoba and others. He also has worked at the Monterey Jazz Festival’s Next Generation program; the Sant Andreu Youth Jazz Orchestra in Barcelona, Spain; the Dave Brubeck Institute in Stockton, California; the Center for Jazz Studies at the Israel Conservatory in Tel Aviv; the Czech Jazz Workshop in Prague; and the Siena Jazz Workshop in Italy. Joel grew up in Racine, Wisconsin and moved to West Hartford, Connecticut as a high school freshman, where he became part of the acclaimed Hall High School jazz band. It was there he developed a passion for jazz, exploring the music of jazz greats such as Art Blakey, Freddie Hubbard, Horace Silver and Wayne Shorter. In 1992, he received a bachelor's degree from the Manhattan School of Music.

Chester Thompson is a renowned percussionist, highly regarded for his ability to move seamlessly between genres. Thompson’s known best for his work with Weather Report, Frank Zappa, Genesis and Phil Collins. He’s shared the stage and/or studio with notable legends such as Freddie Hubbard, Ahmad Jamal, Wayne Shorter, Rodney Franklin, Kirk Whalum, Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’, Michael McDonald, Santana, and many others. In 2015, The Chester Thompson Trio released their second album, Simpler Times, which rose to #4 on the JazzWeek Charts. Their first CD, Approved (2013), made a memorable first impression rising to #6 on the JazzWeek Charts. It exemplifies Thompson’s creative direction as bandleader and prompted a successful European tour. When Chester is not busy with live performances, studio recordings, clinics, writing, he teaches percussion lessons in the Greater Nashville Area. For 20 years, 1998-2018, Thompson taught applied drum lessons at Belmont University in Nashville, TN. He is a well regarded clinician and can be found teaching classes at the Nashville Jazz Workshop. Thompson was honored in 2008 with the Sabian Lifetime Achievement Award at the 32nd Percussive Arts Society international Convention (PASIC). This award recognizes the contributions of the most highly regarded leaders in percussion education.

Whether you first heard Rod McGaha as the opening act for Take 6 or as one of the featured jazz soloists with Max Roach's critically-acclaimed group, or maybe even as a featured soloist playing in front of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, one of your first thoughts had to be, “This guy makes playing great look really easy.” That's because Rod has lived a musical life that was founded on consistent, hard work behind the scenes and passionate fun and pleasure on the stage. A native born Chicagoan, Rod McGaha first showed up on Chicago's jazz scene as a young prodigy, during an era when young lions were making more than just a little roar. He constantly comments on how receiving the acceptance and guidance of legendary tenor saxophonist, Von Freeman was very important to him. Rod is quick to admit that he was blessed to to have garnered the attention of legends like Von Freeman and Clark Terry at a young age, but it is probably most telling that although he received an invite from none other than Wynton Marsalis himself, to come to New York to audition for a spot as one of the newest young lions in Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, he felt that life was calling him in a different direction, to be a different kind of lion.

By the time he was 22, Rod was busy trying to find “a way” to musically express his spiritual beliefs, while utilizing his knowledge and skills in African American modern improvisation (or as it is better known as, Jazz). And, apparently that “way” is an endlessly long way. Rod has played concerts in Egypt, Japan, Germany, South Africa, Poland and Mexico. He has played in bands for Kenny Rogers, Bebe and CeCe Winans and was even the music the director for the now alternative rock sensation Shelby Lynne. One could just list the stages on which he's played (Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and Chicago's legendary Jazz Showcase, to name just a few) and come to the conclusion that his has been a complete musical life. But Rod says the music is the only thing that really matters. “If I can make someone feel something through my music, then I know I'm doing it right. I want people to feel the way I felt listening to Clark Terry. I remember, I was listening to a recording of Clark Terry and it gave me great joy. He made me happy just with his music alone. That's the power of music!”

And, it is Rod's power in music that led the New York Times to proclaim that his album Preacherman was one of the top ten albums deserving greater recognition. Not one to ever rest on past achievements, Rod McGaha has continued to write and perform music that is both contemporary, and yet classic in some nature. Traveling the world and playing with such a diverse group of musical talents spurred him to create the well received United For Peace Orchestra, a 22 member juggernaut of a band, amalgamating over 7 different nationalities. Often, you'll see Rod onstage using nothing but a plunger and his trumpet, while playing a raw a capella blues. His musical philosophy is one reminiscent of the familiar Nikki Giovanni line, “... people try to speak English instead of trying to speak through it.” Rod's primary goal is to speak through music in a way that brings joy to his audiences.

Born and raised in the musical world of Nashville, Grammy nominated musician, arranger, producer and composer Jon Estes has slowly become one of the most respected musicians in the city. His contributions on stage and in the studio have supported a wide range of artists: from instrumental surf rock group Steelism, to British psychedelic legend Robyn Hitchcock, Americana artists such as John Paul White, Abigail Washburn, Peter Bradley Adams, and Langhorne Slim, jazz artists such as Jeff Coffin and Béla Fleck, multi-platinum pop artist Kesha, guitar legend Duane Eddy, rocker Brendan Benson, a Grammy-nominated recording with Dolly Parton, and many more. He works on over 200 hundred sessions a year, constantly shifting roles from producer to bassist to string arranger to engineer, bringing deep experience, creativity, and taste in every role. “Jon is one of those musicians who can do anything and do it at the highest level.” (Jeff Coffin, Dave Matthews Band)

This show is 21 and over only. All sales are final and we unfortunately cannot offer any refunds. Additional tickets may be available at the door on the day of the show even if it is sold out online.

Please try to arrive 15 minutes prior to the show start time. If you do not arrive within 45 minutes after the show start time on your ticket your seat may be resold to other patrons at the door. If you arrive after 45 minutes from the start time of the show and your ticket has been resold, although we cannot guarantee it, we will try our best to make space for you to attend the show.