Matinee: Don Aliquo Plays the Music of Stan Getz

Join saxophonist Don Aliquo in the Jazz Cave on Saturday, November 4, 2023, as he plays the timeless classics of Stan Getz. During his performance, Don will be accompanied by Jerome Degey on guitar, Roger Spencer on bass and Ryan Brasley on drums. The concert begins at 3:00 pm CST (Doors at 2:30 pm).

LIVE PERFORMANCE TICKETS ($35) – NEW add a charcuterie box on Eventbrite with your ticket, more details here.

Don Aliquo: Saxophonist Don Aliquo has been described as a musician with a “fluid and articulate flow of always surprising ideas, sophisticated with a dexterous technique and an incredibly smooth tenor sound that seduces rather than shouts.” His career began in jazz-rich Pittsburgh, where he grew up listening to and learning from the city’s jazz legends while following in the footsteps of his father, a well-respected jazz artist.

An active performer and recording artist, Aliquo has released five solo recordings. His latest CD, entitled SUN & SHIELD features veteran jazz masters Rufus Reid, bass, Jim McNeely, piano and the dynamic drummer Obed Calvaire. His previous recordings, JAZZ FOLK and ANOTHER REPLY were critically acclaimed and received extensive national airplay.

Since 1999, Don has held a faculty position at Middle Tennessee State University near Nashville, where Aliquo is Director of Jazz Studies and Professor of Saxophone. In the Nashville area, Don has performed in concerts and/or recordings with Gary Burton, Greg Osby, Rufus Reid, Pete Christlieb, Scott Robinson, and Marvin Stamm.

Don is an in-demand clinician, presenting concerts and clinics throughout the United States and is honored to represent Vandoren (reeds and mouthpieces) and P.Mauriat (saxophones) as an artist/clinician.

Roger Spencer: Originally from Terre Haute, Indiana, Roger has had an extensive musical career. He has performed, traveled and recorded with such artists as Les Brown and His Band of Renown, Harry James, Rosemary Clooney, Sam Butera, Tony Bennett, Ray Conniff, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Terry Gibbs, Buddy DeFranco and Carl Fontana. He and his wife Lori Mechem moved to Nashville in 1988 where he records, performs, and teaches. Roger attended Indiana University, studying under David Baker in Jazz Studies, and graduated from Indiana State with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. Besides performing and recording with Lori, Roger is a longtime member of the Beegie Adair Trio, and is also on the faculty at Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music. Roger and Lori founded and directed the Nashville Jazz Workshop, where Roger is Artistic Director.

Jerome Degey: Jerome is a French guitarist, bassist, composer, arranger & music producer who works in an eclectic musical environment (jazz, pop, rock, etc.) A few of his arranging and producing accomplishments include the musical score for the film “from Subway with Love,” orchestral arrangements for Martin Solveig’s album “Hedonist” and a Brazilian album with philharmonic orchestra “Loysa Lenn.” Jerome has performed with many notable musicians throughout the world including: Ishtar Alabina (world music), Mick Hucknall from Simply Red (pop), Les Etoiles (duo from Brazil) Iva Fruhlingova (Platinium Artist from Tcheque Republic) and Elissa (Lebanon Artist). Jerome tours and performs extensively with Grace and the Victory Riders. The band includes his wife Grace (daughter of the well-known singer and songwriter, Jonathan Edwards) Together they have attracted large audiences, including a packed Bataclan, in Paris.

Ryan Brasley: Ryan Brasley is a drummer, percussionist, educator and composer originating from Chicago, Illinois. With a career spanning over the last 15 years, Ryan began his musical journey in the Indie/ Alternative rock world as a founding member of The Giving Moon. During this time he had the opportunity to perform across the country working with artists such as Eddie Money, Edgar Winters, and producer Gary Hoey who oversaw the creation of the band’s first album.

As he grew older, Ryan discovered a passion for jazz and improvised music which lead him to pursue and complete a degree in Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media from the prestigious Eastman School of Music. During his education, Ryan had the privilege of studying under world-renowned factually such as Rich Thompson, Gary Versace, Bill Dobbins, Harold Danko, and others. For his degree, Ryan not only had the chance to perform with world-class artists but also had frequent opportunities to teach in the greater Rochester, NY community.

Since moving to Nashville, TN in the last 3 years, Ryan has maintained and active schedule teaching from his private studio and freelancing, performing regularly with local artists such as Don Aliquo, Joel Frahm, Pat Coil, Jonathan Wires, as well as being a regular performer at the famed Skulls Rainbow Room. As an educator, Ryan has extensive experience instructing both individuals and groups in a clinic setting. He welcomes students of all ages and skill levels and is proficient in many styles of music such as Jazz, Rock, Funk, Latin/ Afro Cuban, Classical/ Concert on a variety of instruments such as Drum Set, Mallet Percussion, and Auxiliary Percussion and is also well trained in music theory and composition. With his students, Ryan believes in creating a safe and welcoming environment and aims to share with them his passion for music while providing students with the tools to realize their full musical potential.