Nuance Music

The Arizona Republic awarded Nuance "Best Jazz Performers". Nuance was mentioned in the July/August 2003 issue of Harvard Magazine and appeared on national television (FoodNation with Bobby Flay). Nuance performs at the Valley's leading resort hotels and night spots, including The Phoenician, J.W. Marriott at Desert Ridge, The Wigwam, The Arizona Biltmore, The Westin-Kierland Resort, The Camelback Inn, The Scottsdale Princess, The Boulders, The Four Seasons and many other fine establishments throughout the Southwest.

Nuance is bilingual (English/Spanish), which allows them to conduct workshops and seminars to multi-cultural audiences. The trio has toured internationally under the auspices of the Arizona Commission on the Arts, the Mexican Consulate and the United States Embassy. Concert promoters and presenters trust this superb trio and can always rely on an exciting presentation of tasteful, swinging jazz.

Devon Bridgewater: Violin, Trumpet, Cornet and Flugelhorn

Devon received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard University in 1981. At Harvard, Devon performed in clinics and master classes with Dizzy Gillespie, John Lewis and Yo-Yo Ma. He has played with jazz greats Bud Freeman, Johnny Frigo and Ted Curson. Devon was named 1993 and 1994 "JAZZ ARTIST OF THE YEAR" by Jazz In Arizona, Inc., was voted "Best Trumpet Artist" by AZ Jazz Magazine for 1999, and was listed in Down Beat Magazine as a "Player to Catch" (March 1999). In 2004 and 2005, Devon was chosen as an "Arizona Favorite" by KJZZ--91.5 FM listeners in the station's "Best in Arizona Jazz Contest." Devon also teaches Band / Strings, Music and Movement in the Washington Elementary School District and is on faculty at Orangewood Elementary in Phoenix.

Joel DiBartolo: Bass

Joel received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from SUNY Buffalo in 1969. After a stint with the Army Field Band in Baltimore, Mr. DiBartolo played with Chuck Mangione, Buddy Rich and Maynard Ferguson. Moving to Los Angeles, he played with Don Ellis, Carmen McRae and Sarah Vaughan. Joel was the bassist on The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson for 18 years as a member of the Doc Severinsen Band. During that time he also played with, among others, Ernie Watts, Dave Liebman, John Abercrombie, Russ Ferrante, Denny Zeitlin, the Bob Florence Limited Edition Big Band and the Bill Holman Band. Mr. DiBartolo's book, Serious Electric Bass, published by Warner Bros. in 1997, is now in its third printing. Mr. DiBartolo is Associate Professor of Double Bass and Director of Jazz Studies at Northern Arizona University. In 1999, NAU's centennial year, Professor DiBartolo was chosen as one of the top ten mentors at the university.

Dick Curtis: Guitar

Dick attended Indiana University (South Bend) from 1962 to 1965. After college, he worked with the great jazz saxophonist Sonny Stitt. Settling in Chicago, he regularly performed with Johnny Frigo and Roger Pemberton. Dick also worked as a "first call" show player backing up national touring artists. In 1999, he relocated to Phoenix. In addition to an active performance schedule, Dick writes most of the musical arrangements for Nuance.