The annual series Jazz on the Triangle celebrates its Twenty-first Season at the Church of the Holy Trinity with “Gentlemen of Jazz.” Concerts will be April 17, May 15, and June 19, featuring some of Nashville’s finest and most respected talent. Tickets may be bought at the door or through Holy Trinity members or the Church Office – 615-256-6359. They are $20 each, or three for $45, and those may be used in any combination.
April 17 – Stefan Forbus
Stefan Forbus is a saxophonist from Nashville, Tennessee and graduate of the Tennessee State University where he studied Music. During his matriculation at TSU, Forbus performed with the Aristocrat of Bands, Jazz Combo, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Collegians, Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Orchestra, Commercial Music Ensemble, and Saxophone Quartet.
The path that brought Forbus to his current state is jam-packed with musical experiences that molded his ideas of music. He has performed in many venues, schools, churches, and commercial gigs, and has been exposed to and played many styles of music.
Currently Forbus performs with his own cover band The Combo, world pop band ELEL, The Kim Logan Band, as well as reggae, hip-hop, soul fusion band MD & Cobalt Blue. Some weekends, Forbus can be seen backing Jim Skinner’s Wall To Wall Rhythm and Blues. Forbus also performs weekly for Sunday morning worship at Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church at 10 AM.
The love and respect for music motivate Forbus to strive for success. As Forbus finds his own musical personality through his evolving style and technique, listeners are drawn to his sound.
May 15 – Rahsaan Barber
Our second concert features Rahsaan Barber. Rahsaan is no stranger to Holy Trinity, having played here with other groups. He is making a name for himself in te jazz world both locally and nationally, as with his CD projects “Everyday Magic” and his work with El Movimiento, in The Movement. One instantly can see and hear that Rahsaan has many influences including John Coltrane, and Stanley Turrentine.
Music was a family affair for the Barbers. Rahsaan’s older brother, Robert, plays saxophone and has sat in with Rahsaan’s TrioSoul, featuring onetime Gatemouth Brown organist Moe Denham. Their father, a judicial commissioner in Memphis, plays bass; their mother is a singer. Their grandmother is a gospel, blues, and classical pianist who handed down her love of tenor greats Don Byas, Coleman Hawkins, and Ben Webster to Rahsaan. And his twin brother Roland is an exciting trombonist with his own career – but on occasion you will find them playing together, and that is a treat in itself.
Rahsaan is a graduate of Indiana University, has a Master’s from the Manhattan School of Music and has taught in Nashville at Belmont College. He is a multiple threat on tenor, alto and soprano saxophones as well as on the flute. He is also a veteran of the Nashville Jazz Orchestra.
And Rahsaan plays it all. “Some musicians are not interested in tunes that aren’t cutting-edge,” says Barber. “They look on them as being corny. But all of us here in Nashville do all of it. We play with soul singers, rappers, jazz string quartets, fiddlers. You gain a way of hearing and feeling that is lost on young instrumentalists who haven’t been exposed to great artists in a number of genres.”
June 19 – Thomas Cain
Thomas Cain returns to Holy Trinity this year as our last “Gentleman of Jazz,” and what a gentleman he is. Known by many as the Senior Director, Writer/Publisher Relations for BMI, Thomas Cain is first and foremost a great musician. He plays piano, organ and trumpet; he has a Bachelor’s degree in music education from TSU.
He’s a singer, publisher, producer and songwriter, in addition to having opened shows for artists such as Ray Charles, George Benson, Bill Withers, Ramsey Lewis, Donny Hathaway, Dave Brubeck, Melba Moore and Johnny Mathis. In 1991, Thomas was honored with the Choice award and in 1999 he was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. He’s written and or performed on jingles for national products, and he performs with his group, The Thomas Cain Band.
Cain received the BMI HAL (Heroes and Legends) Cornerstone Award in 2008. The following year, he performed at Lincoln Center in New York City for the National Endowment for the Art’s Jazz Masters Live series. Also in 2009, he was honored as part of the 105 Voices of History HBCU celebration at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. In 2012, Cain retired from his 29-year stint at BMI/Nashville and joined the music faculty at Tennessee State University to teach music publishing. Cain continues in his career as a songwriter, musician, and music publisher helping to manage songs as the intellectual property of creative artists in Nashville. He remains an active performer and studio musician in addition to his publishing work.
Come celebrate Father’s Day with us – bring Dad, Granddad, or that person who has helped you be a Dad or been an auxiliary Dad to you. But do come.
The Church of the Holy Trinity is located at 615 Sixth Avenue South, the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Lafayette Street. The Gothic styled building is known for its fine and intimate acoustics. Tickets may be had for $20 each, or $45 for the series of three. Each concert will begin at 4:00 pm, will include a short intermission, and will be followed by a reception in the Church’s Parish Hall. For further information, contact the Church at (615) 256-6359 or email holytrinityrambl@bellsouth.net.