Rick Estrin & the Nightcats, Nas May 15, 2008

The son of jazz trumpeter Olu Dara, Nas made his name as a highly skilled rapper with the double whammy of 1994s 'Illmatic' and 1996s 'It Was Written,' albums whose music was crafted with a degree of subtlety and forethought often absent from the genre. Nas is touring in support of his latest, 'Street's Disciple.' The Portland-based group Lifesavas, featuring Vursatyl and Jumbo the Garbageman, turn in a dynamic live performance that balances musicality and meaning.