Biography

Nasheet Waits's biography

Nasheet Waits was born in New York City. He is the son of legendary percussionist Frederick Waits, who has played with such sacred giants as Ella Fitzgerald, Sonny Rollins, Max Roach and McCoy Tyner. Tasheet graduated with honours in Music studies at the Long Island University in New York. He also took private lessons with renowned percussionist Michael Carvin. Carvin’s tutelage provided a vast foundation upon which Waits added influences from his father, as well as mentor Max Roach. It was Max that first gave Nasheet’s formidable talent international spotlight, hiring him as a member of the famed percussion ensemble M’Boom. One highlight of Nasheet’s tenure with that band was the live concert they held alongside special guests Tony Williams and Ginger Baker.
One of Nasheet’s first important works was in Antonio Hart’s quintet, with which he recorded three albums and toured the world extensively. More recently, Nasheet has been a member of Andrew Hill’s various bands, Fred Hersch’s trio and Jason Moran’s Bandwagon. The latter, featuring pianist Jason Moran as its originating member, bassist Tarus Mateen, and Nasheet, has been deemed “the most exciting rhythm section in jazz” by JazzTimes, (January 2002) and by The New York Times. Nasheet’s recording and performing discography is a veritable who’s who in Jazz, boasting stints with jazz notables such as Geri Allen, Mario Bauza, Hamiett Bluiett, Abraham Burton, Ron Carter, Marc Cary, Steve Coleman, Stanley Cowell, Orrin Evans, Stefon Harris, Andrew Hill, Bill Lee, Jackie McLean, The Mingus Big Band, The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Greg Osby, Joshua Redman, Vanessa Rubin, Antoine Roney, Wallace Roney, Jacky Terrason, Bunky Green, and Mark Turner.

www.nasheetwaits.com