(Newswire.net — March 15, 2014) —
Paul J Ash, beloved husband of Nobuko Cobi Narita, patron of jazz, business man, son of Sam and Rose Ash and longtime President of Sam Ash Music will be honored with a jazz tribute at St. Peter’s Church in New York City, Monday Evening March 31, 2014 from 5:30 to 9:30pm.
The celebration and tribute will include many luminaries of the jazz world including, instrumentalists, vocalists, poets, tap dancers and storytellers all of whom were friends of Mr. Ash and many of whom directly benefitted from his kindness and generosity though out his long life and successful business career.
Paul Ash was the son of Sam Ash, the founder of the national chain of music stores Sam Ash Music, which now has over 46 music stores and a strong online presence. Together with his brother, Jerry and sister Marcia, the family continued their father Sam’s music business and ushered in 2 more generations to follow in the family tradition creating 4 generations of family members in the Sam Ash music stores.
Family and business associates all remark on his hard work, idiosyncratic sense of humor, dedication to his employees, his great organizational capabilities, tremendous drive, high ethical standards, his sense of caring for musicians, students and the art of jazz itself and personal accessibility.
Paul’s legendary commitment to jazz and jazz musicians began when he started listening to jazz on the radio as a teenager, and later on, enjoyed a long association with jazz and jazz musicians.
While in high school and working after school, he built a large library of popular, classical and jazz 78 RPM’s and later LP’s. At one time, it occupied almost half the music store, producing half the revenue.
In 1973, Paul attended a concert of the Collective Black Artists Repertory Orchestra, where he was introduced to the organization’s dynamic executive director, Nabuko Cobi Narita, his true soul mate. Paul and Cobi married 1989 and continued to share their lives together, supporting and loving jazz in many capacities until Paul’s passing on February 5, 2014 in Syosset, Long Island.
Cobi Narita is continuing his legacy, and her involvement with jazz and jazz musicians has been widely acclaimed. Paul’s happiness was to help her with time, energy, ideas and funds on every one of her projects. Paul supported Cobi’s acclaimed work in jazz for over 40 years, and acted as MC in many jazz concerts presented by their organizations.
Paul was Chairman of the Board of Directors of the first Jazz Center of New York in Manhattan, which he operated with Cobi since 1983, as well as the Universal Jazz Coalition, founded by Cobi in 1976. Paul supported the founding years of International Women in Jazz, founded by Cobi in 1995. Cobi was President for 3 years, followed by 3 years as Chairman of the Board,Paul Ash spent more than 41 years assisting Cobi in her acclaimed work.
Of the more than 10,000 events presented/produced by Cobi and funded by Paul, a few of their favorites included benefits for ailing artists and families of musicians who had passed, of which there were many. On one, they raised $15,000 at a tribute concert, hosted by Max Roach and Jamil Nasser, for jazz master drummer “Papa” Jo Jones, who found fame with Miles Davis and went on to influence every jazz drummer since.
Cobi and Paul presented more than 5,000 free and low cost concerts, between 1976 and 1988. They also produced workshops and panel discussions. A very memorable panel discussion event found Paul leading a discussion at the Village Gate on the future of jazz, a prestigious and historic night club owned by music impresario Art D’Lugoff, that event led to the founding of The Jazz Center of New York. With a keen eye for documenting and preserving history, Paul had the whole event recorded and transcribed.
In 2000, Paul established, designed, furnished and funded Cobi’s Place under the auspice of Jazz Center of New York in the old Manny’s store on 46th st. in New York City. Their weekly Tap Nights at Cobi’s Place were started by Wendy Levine and continued several years. They presented many emerging artists in well produced concerts every week, as well as many special events.
In 2011, Paul and Cobi worked together to produce a concert at Saint Peter’s Church where they raised $15,000 for jazz, and in 2012, they produced 10 concerts at Cobi’s Place, raising $17,000 for Parkinson’s Disease, which Cobi has been quietly and persistently fighting for the last 10 years.
A true patron of jazz, a jazz humanitarian and an astute businessman, Paul J Ash will be truly missed by the jazz community at large, all the musicians, singers, dancers, storytellers, his families and all those who knew and loved him personally.
All are invited to attend, there is no admission and coffee and dessert will be served after the performances and dedications.
For more info on Paul J Ash please visit:
For more info on Cobi Narita please visit:
For more info on the Jazz Center of New York, please visit:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jazz-Center-of-New-York-Cobi-Jazz-Productions/440047209434140?ref=hl
For contact:
St. Peters Church NYC
619 Lexington Avenue at 54th Street
New York, NY 10022
Telephone 212 935 2200
Fax 212 355 3423
administrator@saintpeters.org
White Diamond Media
Sarah James
201.723.4762