Celebrate the centennial of jazz icon Miles Davis with Jazz on the Move on January 18, as acclaimed trumpeter Rod McGaha leads a powerful exploration of one of the most influential artists in American music history. From cool jazz and hard bop to modal jazz and fusion, Davis reshaped the sound of jazz multiple times across his groundbreaking career, launching generations of legendary musicians and redefining artistic innovation. McGaha—praised by Max Roach, Clark Terry, and Victor Wooten for his originality and depth—brings both virtuosity and insight to this tribute, blending live performance with engaging narration. Presented by the Nashville Jazz Workshop at the Frist Art Museum, this free community event honors Miles Davis’s enduring legacy while bringing his revolutionary spirit vividly to life for audiences of all ages.
Rod McGaha is exactly what working musicians strive to be, a potent combination of virtuosity and unfettered artistic passion. Whether you first heard him as the opening act for Take 6 or as one of the featured jazz soloists with Max Roach’s critically acclaimed group, or maybe even as a featured soloist playing in front of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, you would likely be inclined to think “this guy makes playing great look really easy.” That’s because he’s lived a musical life that was founded on consistent, hard work behind the scenes and passionate fun and pleasure on the stage. As he says: “If I didn’t love playing so much, I would have quit. Years ago.”
Now a long-running Nashville tradition in its 20th year, Jazz on the Move showcases some of the city’s finest jazz musicians and educators, offering audiences an accessible and inspiring entry point into jazz history. Lively performances are woven together with storytelling and musical examples, creating an experience that is as entertaining as it is informative.
Designed for audiences of all ages and backgrounds, Jazz on the Move celebrates jazz as a living, evolving art form—honoring its past while sparking curiosity and connection in the present.
