Jazz guitarist Nate Najar along with Chuck Redd on vibes and percussion and Tommy Cecil on bass pay tribute to the music of Charlie Byrd at the Mainstay on Thursday November 17 at 7:30 pm. Admission is $20. For information and reservations call 410-639-9133.
Information is also available at the Mainstay’s website.
Nate Najar is a young jazz guitarist from Florida who was heavily influenced by Charlie Byrd as he developed his own style. Though the two never met, Najar immersed himself in the study of Byrd’s music and techniques on the nylon string classical guitar. A student of jazz from Antonio Carlos Jobim’s Brazilian rhythms to the stylistic genius of guitar and piano innovators including Barney Kessel, Django Reinhardt, Oscar Peterson and Bill Evans and of course, Charlie Byrd – Najar considers musicality central to his compositions and performances. He’ll be joined by Chuck Redd on vibes and drums and Tommy Cecil on bass.
Charlie Byrd, the giant of jazz guitar who was based in Annapolis, was a mentor to the Mainstay in the Mainstay’s early years. Much of the Mainstay’s reputation as a premier jazz venue began with Byrd who after he had played the Mainstay told other jazz musicians about the wonderful room, great sound and wonderful appreciative audiences in Rock Hall.
This concert is part of the Mainstay’s David Pike Memorial Jazz Series. Pike was a highly respected legal journalist covering the Supreme Court. He caught the jazz bug early and by high school he had 40 guitar students and was working at after-hours clubs in his home town of Cleveland as well as working at the Cleveland Press. He paid his way through college with journalism and jazz, but ultimately chose journalism as a career He kept his guitar handy and became a very knowledgeable jazz fan with an impressive collection of recordings. In retirement, he again took up the guitar, playing for himself, improvising on the guitar while listening to radio or CD. He had an amazing ability to play and whistle improvisations at the same time and could name every musician he heard on a recording after a few opening bars. He also played at the Open Mic Night at Andy’s in Chestertown.
The Mainstay (Home of Musical Magic) is the friendly informal storefront performing arts center on Rock Hall’s old time Main Street. It is a 501(c)(3), non profit dedicated to the arts, serving Rock Hall and the surrounding region and committed to presenting local, regional and national level talent, at a reasonable price, in an almost perfect acoustic setting. Wine, beer, sodas and snacks are available at the bar. The Mainstay is supported by ticket sales, fundraising including donations from friends and audience members and an operating grant from the Maryland State Arts Council. . For information and reservations call 410-639-9133. More information is also available at the Mainstay’s website.
Upcoming Mainstay performances include:
Nov. 19 Joe Holt: Happiness – A Thing Called Stride
Dec. 3 Chesapeake Brass Quintet
Dec. 9 Howard Alden & Jeane Gies
Dec. 16 Frank Vignola Duo
.
Nate Najar is a young jazz guitarist from Florida who was heavily influenced by Charlie Byrd as he developed his own style. Though the two never met, Najar immersed himself in the study of Byrd’s music and techniques on the nylon string classical guitar. A student of jazz from Antonio Carlos Jobim’s Brazilian rhythms to the stylistic genius of guitar and piano innovators including Barney Kessel, Django Reinhardt, Oscar Peterson and Bill Evans and of course, Charlie Byrd – Najar considers musicality central to his compositions and performances. He’ll be joined by Chuck Redd on vibes and drums and Tommy Cecil on bass.
Charlie Byrd, the giant of jazz guitar who was based in Annapolis, was a mentor to the Mainstay in the Mainstay’s early years. Much of the Mainstay’s reputation as a premier jazz venue began with Byrd who after he had played the Mainstay told other jazz musicians about the wonderful room, great sound and wonderful appreciative audiences in Rock Hall.
This concert is part of the Mainstay’s David Pike Memorial Jazz Series. Pike was a highly respected legal journalist covering the Supreme Court. He caught the jazz bug early and by high school he had 40 guitar students and was working at after-hours clubs in his home town of Cleveland as well as working at the Cleveland Press. He paid his way through college with journalism and jazz, but ultimately chose journalism as a career He kept his guitar handy and became a very knowledgeable jazz fan with an impressive collection of recordings. In retirement, he again took up the guitar, playing for himself, improvising on the guitar while listening to radio or CD. He had an amazing ability to play and whistle improvisations at the same time and could name every musician he heard on a recording after a few opening bars. He also played at the Open Mic Night at Andy’s in Chestertown.
The Mainstay (Home of Musical Magic) is the friendly informal storefront performing arts center on Rock Hall’s old time Main Street. It is a 501(c)(3), non profit dedicated to the arts, serving Rock Hall and the surrounding region and committed to presenting local, regional and national level talent, at a reasonable price, in an almost perfect acoustic setting. Wine, beer, sodas and snacks are available at the bar. The Mainstay is supported by ticket sales, fundraising including donations from friends and audience members and an operating grant from the Maryland State Arts Council. For information and reservations call 410-639-9133. More information is also available at the Mainstay’s website https://www.mainstayrockhall.org.
Upcoming Mainstay performances include:
Nov. 19 Joe Holt: Happiness – A Thing Called Stride
Dec. 3 Chesapeake Brass Quintet
Dec. 9 Howard Alden & Jeane Gies
Dec. 16 Frank Vignola Duo
Write a Letter to the Editor on this Article
We encourage readers to offer their point of view on this article by submitting the following form. Editing is sometimes necessary and is done at the discretion of the editorial staff.