A living legend in our midst.

photo via nasarabadey.com

Nasar Abadey. You may know him as a Cheverly neighbor, but did you know that Nasar is a legendary jazz artist? Cheverly Day is thrilled to welcome longtime favorite Nasar Abadey + SUPERNOVA to the stage again on May 31.

In his own words Abadey says, "I feel most comfortable at the cutting edge of the music. It is there that I play past what I know so that my creativity is inspired from a higher source."

Abadey has received awards for performance, merit and composition, by the National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities (1978), the D.C. Commission for the Arts (1991), Creative Arts Performance Services (CAPS, 1977), Rites and Reason, Brown University (1978), the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation (1995), and the Prince George's Arts Council (2000), and served as Artist-in-Residence for Dreamlab, a multicultural project sponsored by America Honda and administered by Young Audiences, Inc. (2003), respectively. In addition, he has served as music panelist for the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation (1994), the National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities (1995), and the D.C. Commission for the Arts (1995,96,97) and is a serving board member of the Washington Area Lawyers Association (WALA, 2001-2003).

photo via nasarabadey.com

Since 1972, he has performed with Amiri Baraka, Gary Bartz, Keter Betts, Andy Bey, Birthright, Brother Ah (AKA Robert Northern), Oscar Brown, Jr., Jean Carne, Stanley Cowl, Cyprus Chestnut, Sonny Fortune, Roy Eldridge, Ella Fitzgerald, Tommy Flanagan, Joe Ford, Frank Foster, Charles Galye, Dizzy Gillespie, Vincent Herring, John Hicks, Buck Hill, Paul Horn, Bobby Hutcherson, Carter Jefferson, Hank Jones, Kenny Kirkland, Eartha Kitt, Lee Konitz, Carmen Lundy, Frank Morgan, Jimmy Owens, Valeri Panomorov, Sun Ra, Charlie Rouse, David Sanchez, Pharoah Sanders, Bud Shank, Rey Scott, Stephen Scott, Lonnie Smith, Grady Tate, Gary Thomas, Malachi Thompson, Stanley Turrentine, Bobby Watson, Buster Williams and others. Additionally, he has appeared in various festivals including, San Remo (Italy), Montreal (Canada), Cap City (DC), Virgin Island (Carribean), JVC (NYC), Morocco (Africa), Chicago Jazz Festival, Iowa City Jazz Festival, D.C. Loft Jazz Festival, Atlanta Jazz Festival, Mellon Bank Jazz Festival, (Philadelphia), The East Coast Jazz Festival, the Free World Jazz Festival (DC), International Children’s Festival (Seattle), Guatemala City Jazz Festival, among others. 

photo via nasarabadey.com

Prior to forming SUPERNOVA® he was co-founder/leader, along with Joe Ford and Paul Gresham, of BIRTHRIGHT, and co-producer of two (2) albums, Free Spirits and Breath of Life. Abadey formed SUPERNOVA® to explore his compositional concepts through the many facets of African American classical music, i.e. Jazz. Moreover, he plays a music, which he describes as MULTI-D, which is multi-dimensional and multi-directional. These many directions and dimensions, are fields of realities that change according to density and vibration. Working within this paradigm, SUPERNOVA® exercises its artistic license to perform and explore this African American Classical Music, that includes, but is not limited to: traditional African rhythms, R&B, reggae, world, bebop, fusion, afro-Cuban, Brazilian, new age, free form, etc. These terms are mere labels representing polarities of one energy. Abadey has been awarded grants for performance, merit and composition, by the National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities, the D.C. Commission for the Arts, Creative Arts Performance Services (CAPS), the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, and the Prince George's Arts Council, respectively. In addition, he has served as music panelist for the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities, and the D.C. Commission for the Arts, and is a serving board member of the Washington Area Lawyers Association (WALA). 

Though his travels have taken him to Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, and throughout the USA, he still finds time to teach privately and perform workshops in the Washington, DC and the surrounding area public schools for Young Audiences, the Prince George's Arts Council, and the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz. 

Join us in front of the stage on May 31 at 4:30, and watch a living, breathing legend make some remarkable music.

Biographical information gleaned from Peabody Institute of Music, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and Jazz.com.

May is here...and Cheverly Day is just 31 days away!

We have reason to celebrate today...it's the first of May and the rain has finally cleared out. And the sun puts us in the mood for celebrating and that leads us to CHEVERLY DAY! 

And what would Cheverly day be without great music? This year, we have a great blend of old favorites and new discoveries -- truly something for everyone. 

4:30-5:30pm   Nasar Abadey & Supernova (Jazz)5:30-6:30   The Alfredo Mojica Quintet (Salsa)6:30-7:30   Pan Masters (Steel Orchestra)7:30-8:30   In Da' Cut (Jazz, Funk, Soul)8:30 Speeches and Mayor's Awards, National Anthem performed by Renee Johnson9:00 FIREWORKS!

Nasar Abadey + Supernova Cheverly Day is pleased to welcome a favorite performer of many Cheverly Days: Nasar Abadey.

Internationally renowned drummer and Composer Nasar Abadey is the founder, leader and driving force of SUPERNOVA®. Based in Washington, DC, Abadey has also built a solid reputation as a sideman with several groups, and has recorded and/or performed with many national artists throughout his career. Abadey has performed with many of the greats in the jazz world.

SUPERNOVA includes Joe Ford, Saxophones;James King,Bass; Allyn Johnson, Piano;  They perform music from the threshold of Jazz to beyond space and time, while having an artistic license to express their compositions through traditional African rhythms, bebop, fusion, Afro-Cuban, Afro Brazilian, and free form. The quartet’s musical inspirations include John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, and Duke Ellington among others.

The Alfredo Mojica Quintet Alfredo Mojica, who sang at Bossa for years with the group Sin Miedo, unites salsa, jazz and Latin American balladry.

His vocals can be heard as he sings and plays salsa, ballads and jazz. Alfredo is equally at home with R&B, Blues, Latin, Caribbean, Brazilian, Classical, Funk, Rock and Pop styles of music. He has performed in Japan, Canada, El Salvador, Europe, West Africa and Mexico to name a few. Locally, he has performed at Blues Alley, the Kennedy Center, Constitution Hall, the Warner Theater and many other area venues. Alfredo has also performed on several albums by upcoming jazz and salsa artists including Dave Matthew, Mesa, Alejandra Guzman, Ricky Loza and many others. Alfredo has also toured internationally and nationally with tour with Michelle N’Degociello. Wammie Award winner Alfredo Mojica is recognized as one of the D.C area’s top music talents. 

Pan Masters Steel Orchestra Formed in 1985, the Pan Masters Steel Orchestra is highly regarded throughout our region, and participates in many competitions and events – including the inaugurations of President Bill Clinton and Mayor Marion Barry, as well as community outreach performances at local schools, nursing homes, hospitals and churches throughout the year. Cheverly Day is very pleased to welcome this group to the stage for the first time.

Pan Masters is well-known in the area for the high quality of its music ranging from calypso and reggae to jazz, pop, Latin and classical. Pan Masters has produced four recordings, the latest of which was released in 2005 ("On De Road"). 2005 also marked the 20th Anniversary of Pan Masters. 

In Da’ Cut We are pleased to have In Da’ Cut with us again this year. The R&B, Neo Soul, Jazz Band last performed on the Cheverly Day stage in 2012.

Renee Johnson Renée Johnson launched her professional music career as a member of the gospel group, Sisters in Harmony, who released their debut CD in 2002. Throughout the years she has performed in churches and concerts throughout the DC/Baltimore Metropolitan area. Her recent release, JUST AS I AM, is her debut solo project.

Of course, make sure to stick around for the Mayor's Awards and THE FIREWORKS! It's all coming your way this month!