Press Releases 2006

November 24, 2006

Pianist Plays with Feeling

Panamanian comes to Rutgers by way of Brazil where he conducted symphonies

BY ZAN STEWART
Star-Ledger Staff

Anyone hearing pianist Dino Nugent sitting in with John Farnsworth's sextet at Smoke Jazz Club and Lounge in New York a few weeks ago would acknowledge he's a first-rate jazzman with a succulent lyricism and abundant swing.

The Panama-born Nugent is a Fulbright Scholar master's degree jazz studies candidate at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, New Brunswick. He also has an extensive background in classical piano and conducting.

Nugent, 44, appears Tuesday at the Nicholas Music Center at Rutgers with the Scarlet Knights Jazz Trombones, directed by Conrad Herwig. Latin piano giant Eddie Palmieri is a special guest. Also on the bill is the Rutgers Jazz Ensemble, directed by Ralph Bowen.

Palmieri and Nugent will play at least one number together on two pianos. "It will be a high honor to play with him," says Nugent. "I've listened to him since I was 18, and always admired the daring way Eddie plays the piano, taking the (innovative) McCoy Tyner approach and setting it in a Latin rhythm section. It's highly attractive."

Nugent began piano studies at age 13, and even though he has played other instruments, piano remains his focus.

"It's just part of my way of life, it's what I do," he says. "I have to eat every day, I have to play every day. The completeness of it draws me. The piano allows you to do so many things, you can practically be your own orchestra."

Jazz is also a source of inspiration for Nugent, who names such pianists as Keith Jarrett, Bill Evans and fellow Panamanian Danilo Perez ("He's my hero") as influences.

"I like the groove of the music, the way it swings. It's hot music," says Nugent. "I like the challenge of improvisation, that on-the-spot creating, the freedom that jazz allows."

Nugent began to concentrate on jazz during his undergraduate years at the Minas Gerais Federal University in Minas Gerais, Brazil, from which he graduated in 1988 with degrees in composition and conducting.

"I began to be curious about jazz, started buying records, reading charts, learning how the piano worked in jazz," he says. "I really got hooked."

Still, after graduation, Nugent worked as a conductor, not a pianist, first as assistant conductor with the Minas Gerais Symphony Orchestra, later, with the Panama Symphony Orchestra in his home town, Panama City.

"At first, I felt more capable as a conductor than a pianist, and I liked the possibilities conducting a symphony orchestra offered," says Nugent, who conducted the works of such masters as Berlioz, Beethoven and Mahler. "I loved the different musical languages these guys put down. Every score is like a new discovery, adventure. And having the sounds of the orchestra coming towards me is an awesome experience."

But so was playing jazz piano, Nugent says, and when he heard Perez, and saw the latter's career take off, he was inspired and wanted to take a chance with jazz. One way was to study, so Nugent applied for a Fulbright and landed at Rutgers last year. He returns to Panama in the spring.

It's been a splendid time, he says, studying with piano master Stanley Cowell, working occasional gigs, sitting in at Smoke with Farnsworth or Chris Washburne's Latin band, making the jam sessions.

"This has been a longtime dream to learn, study, be around high-quality American jazz musicians, including the Rutgers students," he says. "This is where I wanted to come. I can see how I have improved over the past year. I see it happening. Living your dream feels so good."


Zan Stewart writes about jazz for The Star-Ledger. He may be reached at zstewart@starledger.com or at (973) 324-9930.