Convergence of World Class Drummers

Three of the greatest drummers in the world—Israeli percussionist Chen Zimbalista and jazz masters Lewis Nash and Matt Wilson—will visit the Dayton area on Cityfolk’s dime over the next few weeks. Zimbalista and Nash will perform together at UD’s Boll Theatre on February 10, while Wilson brings his Matt Wilson Quartet to Yellow Springs for a concert at Antioch College on February 27. This convergence of internationally renowned percussionists is good news for a lot of folks: drummers and percussionists, jazz and world music aficionados, music students, fans of the pounding drum, those who like to connect the dots between different styles and genres of music and anyone with a keen appreciation of musical fun.

Chen Zimbalista, called “a towering virtuoso” by the Frankfurter Allgemeine and “a true virtuoso with brilliant technique” (Shanghai Today), is one of only about 30 professional percussionists in the world who makes a living working solo. Zimbalista uses an on-stage array of more than 40 percussion instruments, including drums, marimbas, cymbals, gongs and more, and plays music that draws from classical, jazz, rock and world music.

In addition to performing solo, Zimbalista often works in duo, trio and larger formats and has performed with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Israel Chamber Orchestra, Detroit Symphony, Los Angeles Jewish Symphony and the Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players. Zimbalista made his recording debut in 1999 with (the mostly solo) Desert Beat, which ranges from Shostakovich to works by contemporary Israeli composers to Zimbalista’s own prize-winning Impulse I. Zimbalista won the prestigious Francois Shapira Prize in 1991.

A native of Phoenix who has lived in New York City since 1981, Lewis Nash has been called “the great drummer of his generation” by jazz critic Gary Giddins. Nash’s discography bears out that claim, as Nash has performed on more than 400 albums, working with such jazz greats as Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Peterson, Benny Carter, Hank Jones, John Lewis, Diana Krall, Joe Lovano and Roy Hargrove.

Nash is also featured on recordings by such pop singers as Natalie Cole, Bette Midler, Nancy Wilson, Kenny Rankin, Melissa Manchester and Linda Ronstadt. In addition to his work as a sideman, Nash has recorded four albums as a leader; his latest is Lewis Nash and the Bebop All-Stars featuring Frank Wess.

Award-winning drummer, composer and bandleader Matt Wilson, described by Downbeat as “one of the most in-demand and versatile musicians in jazz,” keeps busy with tons of session work and performing (everyone from Elvis Costello to Wynton Marsalis to John Zorn) and leading two four-piece bands, the Matt Wilson Quartet and Arts & Crafts, which features Cityfolk favorite, trumpeter Terell Stafford.

Wilson honed his considerable chops playing in bands led by saxophonists Dewey Redman and Lee Konitz, who says of Wilson, “I don’t think I’ve ever heard him play an unmusical hit on the drums and cymbals.” A native of Knoxville, Illinois, Wilson has recorded eight albums as a leader, the most recent of which is That’s Gonna Leave a Mark by the Matt Wilson Quartet.