Vick ’Nash’ Espinoza

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VICK “NASH” ESPINOZA *Guitarist *Accordionist *Keyboardist *Singer-Songwriter *Producer
Vick's first musical instrument was the guitar, which he picked up from is brother who played Rock & Roll and Beatles music around the Ft. Bend County area. Vick started playing the accordion as a teenager with his grandfather and uncle, and it didn't take long for him to show a natural flair with the instrument. As a young accordionist, Vick drew inspiration from the sophisticated. jazzy style of South Texas bands such as the famous Conjunto Bernal. Later, he was equally impressed by the sophisticated sounds of Los Fabulosos Cuatro, which featured young musicians of his own generation.
Inspired by Los Fabulosos Cuatro, Vick answered the musical challenge by forming his own group, which he called Los Mejores Cuatro. The group caused a stir in the rural communities of the Ft. Bend County region. "Who's the kid on the accordion?" people wanted to know. Vick also sang with the group, introducing his original polkas, rancheras and boleros, while also working his talents on guitar and keyboard.
Flair and Versatility… Vick soon distinguished himself as an exceptionally talented musician. Bands sought him out not only for his flair and finesse on guitar, but also for his versatility as an accordionist, keyboardist, singer, songwriter and arranger. Vick played with numerous Houston area bands throughout the sixties, including Tejano, tropical, blues, rock, pop, R&B, funk and country.
In the seventies, Vick took a deep interest in country music. He played keyboards with Joe Cruz and the Cruisers, a popular band during the country music "hey-days" in Pasadena, Baytown and surroundings. He also worked as a studio musician with Gilley's Enterprises, Gilley's Recording Studio, and Points West Publishing. Inspired, Vick moved to Nashville, where he spent ten years immersed in country music. He honed his country style on the job as a studio musician in Nashville recording studios. His refined style and finesse on country guitar earned him the name "Nash," given to him by his peers. While in Nashville, Vick toured with the Marty Martel Show band as keyboardist and musical director.
In 1996, Vick returned to Houston and began establishing his recording business JazTrax Studio, composing and producing his own music and that of other artists. He also formed his own band Genio, which performed a repertoire of Tejano, tropical and vallenato orginals and classics. Later, he joined Tejano Knights as a keyboardist, then Houston's Powerhouse Avizo as a guitarist, playing a mix of Tejano, R&B, pop, salsa and Latin rock. In 2004, Vick joined Houston’s premiere Latin jazz and rock band, The Norma Zenteno Band, as guitarist. He also performed with legendary trumpeter, the late Roberto Zenteno and his orchestra. Vick picked up the accordion once again, after a twenty-year lull, spicing up his performance of polkas, cumbias, meringues and vallenato with his own unique brand of Texas roots accordion jazz.
Today, Vick continues to build his JazTrax Studio, producing his own music and recordings by solo artists and bands. Smooth Stroking is the title of Vick’s first CD. The collection features original smooth jazz with a Latin touch, with Vick performing on all instruments. Smooth Stroking was in the field considered for 2005 Grammy Nomination in the category of Best Instrumental Jazz Album. The CD got great reception on numerous Internet radio stations, including the West Coast-based Smooth Jazz and More, Bay Smooth Jazz based in Macon Georgia and Whitester SmoothJazz out of Omaha, Nebraska. It also got airplay on Guitars and All That Jazz and WCJZ Worlds of Cool Jazz. Sonando is Vick’s second CD, featuring a mix of Latin classics in a variety of genres. Currently, Vick is completing production of several CDs, each in distinct genres, including Latin jazz, smooth jazz, Latin pop, corridos and accordion polka instrumentals.
Vick has been composing music and writing songs for many years. He has over 40 songs signed with Universal Música Latino and 75 songs cleared through BMI. Several of his tunes have been recorded Tejano artists and one of his ballads was recorded in Latin America.
Vick has produced and engineered numerous demos and CDs for solo artists and bands out of his JazTrax Studio. Among CDs engineered by Vick are AViZO’s Power of Friends, which featured guest singers Joe Hernandez, David Mares and Agustin Ramirez. The Tejano CD was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2006. Vick also produced and performed in Johnny Hernandez’s CD,This Time (Again), featuring blues classics. Produced in 2007, the CD is receiving good airplay in Los Angeles and New York City.
On the Houston music scene, catch Vick “Nash” jazzing it up on stage with “Queen of Salsa” Norma Zenteno every Thursday at the popular downtown nightspot, Sambuca Jazz Café. On Fridays, catch him in performance at Doneraki Restaurant-Gulfgate Center in Houston’s Eastside, reeling out the fiery notes in hard drive with Santanaesque intensity to the thrill and cheers of his fans.