NASHVILLE JAZZ - Key Persons
Aaron "The A-Train" Smith (born September 3, 1950) is a Nashville- based drummer and percussionist who has played as a member of multiple bands, and as a studio musician, starting in 1970. Smith played drums on several hit Motown recordings in the 1970s, including The Temptations' "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone". In the 1980s, he was a member of the new wave band Romeo Void and the Christian alternative rock band the 77s.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- President, Van Heusen Music
Job Titles:
- Professional Theater Artist
Carolyn has been a professional theater artist for over 35 years, with credits that span from Off-Broadway to cruise ships, from edge-y black-box spaces to large regional-theatre houses. She has performed in over 25 projects with the Tennessee Repertory Theater, where her favorites include Val in "A Chorus Line", and Aunt Gert in "Lost in Yonkers". Carolyn has always had a penchant for creating cabaret performances and one-person shows. She has performed solo shows in NYC, DC and Nashville, with highlights including performing at the Smithsonian for their salute to Irving Berlin, and more recently, her "Song'splaining" cabaret of her original music at the Nashville Jazz Workshop. Carolyn is an award-winning playwright, and a prolific lyricist/composer who works in a variety of genres. Carolyn is also proud to be a founding member of the Nashville's longest running Improv group, Spontaneous Comedy Company.
A native of Nashville, Charles had a long and distinguished career as both a Bassist and Vocalist. While living in New York city for 17 years, he travelled and worked with artisits such as Tommy Flanagan, Milt Jackson, Teddy Wilson, Dorothy Donegan, Sammy Davis, Jr. and the Count Basie Orchestra. Charles was an Adjunct Instructor at Tennessee State University where he taught the Jazz Ensemble, Jazz History and was head of the String Department. At NJW, he taught advanced vocal performance and repertoire classes. We were extremely fortunate to have such a seasoned "pro" on our faculty. Charles passed away on September 22, 2003.
Based out of Nashville TN, Chris West has been performing, composing/arranging, and teaching since 1998. An accomplished saxophonist/woodwindist, West has been working as a freelance musician, as well as touring internationally with several groups for over 20 years. West holds a Bachelor's degree in Commercial Music Performance/Composition, and a Master's degree in Jazz Studies. His music and arrangements have been nominated for and won several awards and contests including a nomination for a Nashville Music Award in 1998 for his song "Dreams", three songs in the semi finals (and one in the finals) of the International Song Writing Competition in 2011 and 2020, and won first place in the Instrumental Music category of the 2020 Great American Song Contest for his song "Complete Control". In 2014, West played and arranged horns on Mike Farris's Grammy winning album "Shine For All The People". West's first solo album entitled "Jazzmanic" was released in 2006 and features 9 original compositions. In 2011, he followed that up with a three album release entitled "The Surprise Trilogy", which has been reviewed in several publications including Downbeat and Jazztimes, and has received international radio play. West has arranged, recorded, performed, and toured with many artists including My Morning Jacket, Brenda Lee, Charles Walker, Carrier Underwood, Johnny Reid, Dr. Lonnie Smith, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Jack White, Little Big Town, Shania Twain, and many others. His original music has been featured in many movies and TV shows including "Blackish", "Togetherness", "Queen Sugar", "Star", "The Originals", "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel", and several others. Currently, West continues to release original music, as singles, and features them in his weekly Youtube videos and live streams. He also leads and composes for an 11 piece funky-jazz ensemble called the JunkYard Horns.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Pediatrician at ICON Pediatrics
Job Titles:
- Family Practice Physician
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Chief Physician Executive, the Hardenbergh Group / Emeritus Board Members
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Curator of Music and Performing Arts at the National Museum of African American History and Culture
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Managing Partner, the Lovenoise Group
Greg Bryant is a longtime contributor to the music scene in Nashville, as a bassist, a bandleader (Concurrence, The Greg Bryant Expansion) and as a broadcaster. That last role, which goes back to his early teenage years, has now brought him to the greater New York area and WBGO-FM, as the host of Jazz After Hours.
Before leaving Nashville, Greg was named "instrumentalist of the year" by the Nashville Independent Music Awards (NIMA) and his group Concurrence, co-led with pianist Paul Horton, was named "best jazz group" by the Nashville Scene. He also cultivated a local concert series where he brought renowned improvisational musicians to the Nashville area including Dr. Lonnie Smith, Charlie Hunter, John Ellis, Logan Richardson and Peter Bernstein.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Middle School Teacher at Episcopal School of Nashville
Job Titles:
- Vice President of the Board
Jim is a bassist and vocalist whose two recent CD's "Not Just Another Pretty Bass," and "Deep Summer Music" have received national attention. After graduating from the University of South Carolina with a Master of Music Degree in 1981, he moved to Nashville. He has performed with scores of major jazz artists, and at numerous festivals. Among the artists with whom he has performed are Teddy Wilson, Kenny Burrell, Lenny Breau, Cal Collins, Phineas Newborn Jr., Jimmy Raney, Martin Taylor, the Hi-Los, Jay McShann, Conte Candoli, Gene Bertoncini, Attila Zoller, Steve Allen, Marian McPartland, and Mose Allison. He has appeared on a number of NPR programs, including "Piano Jazz" and "Morning Edition".
Jonathan A. Wires is jazz performer, composer, and educator. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Memphis and a Master's Degree in Jazz Studies from Middle Tennessee State University. He has studied bass with Tim Goodwin, John Chiego, Michael Formanek, and Denis Irwin. Wires has been recorded on numerous records ranging from rock, jazz, folk, to classically influenced music. He has performed with a variety of artists including Frank Lowe, Billy Bang, Michael Marcus, Alvin Fielder, Michael Jefry Stevens, Jeff Coffin, Abbey Rader, Cassandra Wilson, Steve Davis, Kallen Esperian, Don Aliquo, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Charlie Wood, Kelley Hurt, Calvin Newborn, Larry Panella, Rod McGaha, Leon Anderson, Joel Weiskopf, Bruce Dudley, Kate Paradise, Joe Davidian, Chester Thompson, Thomas Giampietro, Chris Walters, and Evan Cobb. Among his other contributions are performances on the film soundtrack for "Black Snake Moan". In addition, he has served on staff at the Vermont Jazz Institute and the Nashville Jazz Workshop's summer jazz camp. Jonathan teaches Small Ensemble classes at the NJW.
Liz Johnson is a vocologist and voice teacher based in Nashville, TN. She practices voice habilitation with people from all over the world, and blends her training in psychology, jazz, and voice science to offer clients a balanced and holistic approach to vocal health.
An Illinois native, Liz began her musical study at age 6 with piano and moved to flute and then alto saxophone in high school and college, playing in local jazz bands. After college she moved to Nashville, where she found the Nashville Jazz Workshop and began several years of intensive study of voice and improvisation. She moved from student to accomplished performer and jazz artist, performing regularly in Nashville and around the country.
In 2004 Liz was invited to perform at the Montreux Switzerland Jazz Festival as a semi finalist in the international vocal jazz competition. She has been featured on the nationally syndicated jazz radio program Jazz with Bob Parlocha, and has sung in cities across the US.
Liz has four CD's to her credit: One More for the Road (2001), Playground (2004), and Joy Unspeakable (2012), and Jazz + Hymns (2014). She received a Masters degree in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from Belmont University, and has also made an extensive study of the physiology of the voice completing the Summer Vocology Institute through the National Center for Voice and Speech at the University of Utah in 2012.
She is an originating member of the Pan American Vocology Association (PAVA), and served as the Central Governor on PAVA's board of Directors from 2017-2019. Liz is also the Certificate Program Coordinator at the Nashville Jazz Workshop.
Job Titles:
- Director of Education
- Founder
A respected jazz pianist, composer and educator, Lori, along with her husband Roger Spencer, has lived in the Nashville area since 1988. In addition to directing production shows and conducting musical theatre, she has performed with artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, Red Holloway, Jimmy Smith, Cal Collins, Roy McCurdy, Terry Gibbs, Pete Christlieb, Edie Gorme, Bobby Militello, Kirk Whalum and Donna McElroy. A native of Anderson Indiana, Lori received a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana.
Lori's first CD, "Welcome to Brazil" was nominated for "Best Jazz Album of the Year" by the Nashville Music Awards in 1997. In 2003, Lori's second CD, "Shiny Stockings, rose to #26 on the jazz charts. In 2005 she released a Brazilian Christmas album on Village Square Music. Since then she has released three more CD's: "April in Paris" (a second Count Basie album), "The Dream of Life" (original meditation music), and "Return to Ipanema."
Lori and Roger founded and direct the Nashville Jazz Workshop. Lori is responsible for curriculum, student advisement, and special events, and teaches vocal, instrumental, and keyboard classes.
Job Titles:
- Interim Executive Director
- Member of the Board
Monica Shriver is a Nashville-based multi-instrumentalist, composer, music educator, and visual artist who performs regularly in a number of musical settings ranging from traditional big bands to modern rock groups to collaborating with singer-songwriters and MC's on saxophone, flute and clarinet. Shriver leads the Abstract Art Quartet, which draws on a wide variety of jazz traditions and styles. The AAQ's concerts are often presented in tandem with Shriver's abstract visual art, resulting in a unique and powerful experience of sound and sight. She is an active and sought-after improvisation and composition teacher and clinician for all instruments and ages. She has an active private studio of students taking lessons in-person and online. Monica Shriver is also the co-founder of Brave Musician - BraveMusician.com - an arts initiative which facilitates communication and positive interactions between musicians of all levels by providing workshops, a blog, a podcast, and networking opportunities for those seeking to empower, develop creative confidence, and improve musically in inclusive and diverse environments free of judgment, bias and negativity.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Development Direct or
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 direct the Nashville Jazz Workshop, where Roger is Artistic Director.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Product Marketing Manager, IZotope Inc
Roy Vogt took up the bass in Texas at 14, inspired by Jack Bruce, Jack Cassidy, Chris Hillman and Noel Redding. His first mentor, Dallas bassist Ed Garcia, turned him onto the playing of Ray Brown and Stanley Clarke and detoured the young bassist into jazz and fusion. Roy worked in a variety of Rock, Funk and Country bands in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area until he joined the Texas fusion band Aurora.
This led to gigs opening for Larry Coryell and the LA Express and allowed Roy to meet and learn from Stanley Clarke, Miroslav Vitous, and Max Bennett. The music of the Dixie Dregs, Mark Egan with Pat Metheny, and Jaco Pastorius led Roy to the University of Miami Jazz program, where he received the first Masters in Electric Bass Performance awarded in the US in 1980.
In 1980, Roy moved to Nashville, TN where he has worked with Allman Bros guitarist Dickey Betts, country guitar legend Jerry Reed, and a host of major label Rock, Country, Contemporary Christian, and Pop acts.
Roy was the staff bassist on Channel 4 magazine (WSMV-NBC) from 1983-1987 and has taught at Belmont University since 1983.
Job Titles:
- Office Manager
- Partner
- Volunteer Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Senior Associate, Ankura