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Timi Esan ’27 (left) and Ted Nash are shown during a rehearsal. “One of the reflections from the few days for me was more about the personal engagement with the students than it was strictly concerning the music.”
Images by Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer
Campus & Community
Engaging with the rhythm of life
Students prepare a concert with saxophonist and composer Ted Nash that concludes with an enlightening dinner dialogue
At Arrow Street Arts, the Harvard Jazz Orchestra found itself in harmony with Grammy-awarded saxophonist and composer Ted Nash. The sold-out concert on February 21, which I coordinated with Emil Massad ’25, signified an exhilarating partnership with Jazz at Lincoln Center.
The center was enthusiastic about joining forces with Harvard because, as Todd Stoll, its vice president of education, remarked, “Harvard is such a highly respected establishment globally. It is crucial that individuals also comprehend the significant role that the arts play in the lives of students.”
For this performance, Nash tailored the arrangements he performed with the orchestra, immersing us in his imaginative process.
“Ted approached the music with great wisdom and meticulous attention to detail through the passion and emotion he conveyed, along with the thought-provoking comments, recommendations, and narratives he shared,” stated saxophonist Zeb Jewell-Alibhai ’27.
After practice, we shared dinner with Nash, providing an opportunity to connect beyond the music. He recounted growing up in a musically-inclined family and his lifelong aspiration to become a musician.
“He inspired us to contemplate our own backgrounds as a means of fostering creativity, guiding us through how his family and past experiences influenced his music,” which made the chance to perform his arrangements even more special, Massad reflected.
For Nash, the dinner was the pinnacle of the experience. “It was exceptional because the students were so insightful and open, and willing to discuss subjects that matter to them — that truly touched me,” he expressed.
Nash engaged us in discussions about our passions and anxieties, offering wisdom and motivation. He was taken aback that many students did not concentrate in music, noting, “They had so many other topics they wished to discuss … that surprisingly connected to music.”
“Working with Ted Nash was seamless. Ted cultivated a perfect atmosphere filled with incredible energy, leading to an outstanding concert,” remarked Yosvany Terry, Harvard’s director of jazz bands and a senior lecturer in music.
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