Jazz Double-Bill: Joel Harrison Guitar Choir + The Ted Nash Trio

Joel Harrison, Steve Cardenas, Gregg Belisle-Chi, Max Light / Ben Allison, Steve Cardenas, Ted Nash Trio

In the words of Joel Harrison, “the guitar can do anything—howl, whisper, swing, groove. It can explore extra terrestrial textures, play gorgeous harmony and quiet counterpoint, or cause acid lunatics to dance naked in a field.” And thus his new project, The Guitar Choir, where four expert players from different backgrounds merge to explore the guitar’s infinite universe of sound.

The orchestral concept is not so much about soloists and accompaniment, rather a group mind where the collective is prized and beauty emerges from surprise and empathy. The idea has grown from Harrison’s work at the yearly Alternative Guitar Summit Camp where master players often group together by chance with spectacular results. The repertoire includes Harrison’s compositions as well as tunes from anywhere.

Steve Cardenas is best known for his work with Charlie Haden, Steve Swallow, and Paul Motian. Max Light is considered one of the leading younger improvisers with influences from modern bop to Allan Holdsworth. He placed 2nd in the 2019 Herbie Hancock Guitar Competition. Gregg Belisle-Chi gained notoriety for releasing an astonishing solo record of avant saxophonist Tim Berne’s improvisations. He leads his own quartet exploring the outer reaches of jazz and rock and much else. Guitarist, composer, arranger, lyricist, writer, educator, and vocalist Joel Harrison has “created a new blueprint for jazz” (New Orleans Times-Picayune). Succinctly described by the New York Times as “protean… brilliant,” he is the founder and director of the Alternative Guitar Summit, a yearly festival and camp devoted to new and unusual guitar music.

The Ted Nash Trio is a jazz trio led by Grammy‑winning saxophonist and composer Ted Nash, best known for his work with Jazz at Lincoln Center. The core lineup features Ted Nash on saxophones and clarinet, guitarist Steve Cardenas, and bassist Ben Allison; together they play intimate, drummer‑less trio music that emphasizes close interaction, space, and melody, often drawing inspiration from the classic Jimmy Giuffre trios and from projects like their Somewhere Else: West Side Story Songs album.