The Nuance Jazz Trio, launched over 30 years ago to become an esteemed jazz-swing ensemble. Nuance embodies freshly diverse and buoyant sounds to represent all that jazz was and still is, performed by a well-honed trio of veteran Phoenix musicians. Nuance's repertoire includes old and new jazz influences including Great American Songbook encompassing Django Reinhardt (hot jazz), mainstream jazz standards, Bossa Novas and other Latin favorites, as well Americana and even some pop. Instrumentation includes trumpet (violin double), guitar and bass. Voted "Best Jazz Performers" by the Arizona Republic.
Devon Leal Bridgewater
Trumpet, Cornet, Flugelhorn & Violin
Devon Leal Bridgewater is a Phoenix native and graduated from Harvard University in 1981. The Nuance Jazz Trio was awarded, “Best Jazz Performers” by The Arizona Republic and has toured internationally. Devon performed with his mentor Dizzy Gillespie; Ted Curson, and The Herb Pomeroy Boston Big Band. He was also featured with pianist John Lewis (musical director of the Modern Jazz Quartet), violinist Johnny Frigo and tenor saxophonists Bud Freeman and Harold Vick. Bridgewater has won performance honors from Jazz in Arizona (Jazz in AZ), KJZZ FM 91.5, AZ Jazz Magazine, and was listed in Down Beat Magazine as a “Player to Catch.” Devon received his Ph.D. in History from Arizona State University in December, 2018.
Selwyn Reams
Double Bass
Selwyn Reams grew up in Arizona. He was raised in a very musical family and started playing the saxophone, trumpet, euphonium, trombone and classical percussion at a young age. Selwyn, even though proficient at playing brass and reed instruments, was a tuba/low brass major at Northern Arizona University. He took up the double bass while in college and has played double bass in seven different Symphony and Chamber Orchestras. Although versed in all styles of music, Selwyn is a jazz afficionado and has performed at numerous jazz venues and festivals including, Playboy Jazz Festival, Sedona Jazz on the Rocks and Vancouver International Jazz Festival in British Columbia, Canada. Selwyn has performed with many acts including, Bill Watrous, Mike Vax, Don Rader, Richie Cole, Cedar Walton, Joe Bonner, Gary Foster, Lennie Niehaus, Lew Tabackin, Jack Sheldon, Terry Gibbs, Carl Fontana, Joe Williams, Kate Davis, Emmy Lou Harris, Donald O'Conner, John Lee Hooker and DeeDee Bridgewater.
Dan Sieckman
Guitar
Dan started playing guitar at 12 years old. By the time he was 15, he was an avid fan of jazz and became serious about studying the idiom on guitar. As he immersed himself in the music of Joe Pass, Herb Ellis, Barney Kessel, Wes Montgomery, and Pat Martino, he also studied many of the great saxophone and trumpet artists including Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Dexter Gordon, Jerry Bergonzi, Dizzy Gillespie, Chet Baker, and Miles Davis to name a few. He attended Arizona State University receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Jazz Performance in 1980. In 1998, Dan joined the house band for the Arkansas Heritage Foundation and played with various local and regional artists. In 2005, Dan formed the Prickly Pair Jazz Duo, playing with different bass players at many venues throughout the Valley.