Guest Post: Nick Sanders Duo + Trio

New York-based pianist Nick Sanders wrote a few words about the music he'll be presenting this Thursday, October 16th, 2014, at The Jazz Gallery. Check out this post as well as this recent blog post by Doug Ramsey at Rifftides to learn more about Sanders and his music: Since moving to New York in November of 2012, I’ve had the chance to play a lot of different music and meet some amazing musicians. My main focus has been working with my piano trio, which has been together for about three years. We released our debut album, Nameless Neighbors, on Sunnyside Records in the summer of 2013 and recently just recorded our second album for Sunnyside, which will be released in early 2015. Fred Hersch produced both albums.I was recently at the Amiens Jazz Festival in France playing a series of solo piano shows, which made me think differently about how to approach my music outside of the piano trio setting. I decided that I would present two projects I’ve been developing independently from my piano trio for these two sets at the Gallery.The first set at 8 p.m. will feature standards performed duo with saxophonist Logan Strosahl. Logan and I began playing together when we were at The New England Conservatory, and he was recently signed to Sunnyside Records and will be releasing his own album in the middle of next year, which I am pleased to be a part of. In terms of our influences, I honestly cannot think of a specific duo that has directly influenced us, but we influence each other by just playing a lot together and talking about specific arrangements or tunes that we both enjoy.We've also recently started a YouTube channel, where we usually post a new video every week and invite listeners to make comments and requests.The second set at 10 p.m. is a bass-less trio with tenor saxophonist Sam Decker and drummer Connor Baker. After coming back from a series of solo piano concerts in France, I realized how fun it is to have complete control of the bass as the pianist; Sam and Connor also have an easier time navigating the music, and it gives a different feeling from the “normal” rhythm section setup.Like Logan, I met Sam and Connor at The New England Conservatory. Connor is the drummer in my piano trio, and Sam and I have played in numerous configurations over the years (not to mention that we were freshman dorm roommates once upon a time). All of us bring in original music and arrange it collaboratively, which really develops trust between us as musicians, and we hope the result is evident in the music.Nick Sanders Duo + Trio perform at The Jazz Gallery this Thursday, October 16th, 2014. The first set at 8 p.m. will feature Sanders on piano and Logan Strosahl on saxophone; the second set at 10 p.m. will feature Sanders on piano, Sam Decker on tenor saxophone, and Connor Baker on drums. Tickets are $15.00 for the first set ($10.00 for Members) and $10.00 for the second set. Purchase tickets here.