Zaid Nasser is a true saxophonist. Zaid Nasser, the son of Jamil (nee George Joyner), was raised on the jazz scene. He spent his youth playing saxophone with Papa Jo Jones and received lessons on jazz and life from Ffather Time. He was a regular with Lou Donaldson, George Coleman and others early on. He’s been a part of the New York scene for more than twenty years. He has played with Junior Cook, Cecil Payne and Harold Mabern. Zaid spent three year with Calvin Newborn’s band, playing across the south and in roadside juke shops, and developing his unique sound. Zaid spent three years working with Bill Doggett as an organist, and another three with Panama Francis with the Savoy Sultans. He has been a regular at Smalls for more than ten years. He led his own quartet, co-led a quintet alongside altoist Mike Mullins, and was a sideman on the Across 7 Street Septet. He also played the legendary Saturday late night show with Frank Hewitt. Zaid’s music is authentic and organic. Zaid is a risk-taker and plays intelligent music with an unusual freedom, much like the underground legend C Sharpe. His debut recording, just recorded, is arriving in September 2007 from Smalls Records from www.smallsrecords.com
