Poet Kate Rushin and Bassist Nat Reeves at Westminster School

Poet Kate Rushin and jazz bassist Nat Reeves will give a combination reading and concert Jan. 11 at Westminster School as part of the school’s Friday Nights at Westminster series.

Rushin is a Pushcart Prize-nominated poet and author of the poetry collection “The Black Back-Ups.” She has taught at University of Massachusetts Boston, M.I.T., Brown University and Wesleyan University, and has led poetry workshops for the Mark Twain House and the Connecticut Office of the Arts. The recipient of a number of fellowships, she serves on the poetry committee of the Sunken Garden Poetry Festival, the James Merrill House committee, and comments on art and culture on The Colin McEnroe Show.

Rushin began performing her poetry with Nat Reeves and his group, State of Emergency, in 2017. As a bassist, Reeves is regarded as a precise accompanist, known for his impeccable time, deep tones and earthy, organic sound. He has toured the world with some of the most important figures in jazz in the last half-century and performed at prestigious venues and festivals. His work as an educator at The Hartt School has spanned more than 30 years.

The Westminster School performance is free and open to the public and will begin at 7 p.m. in the school’s Werner Centennial Center, which is located at 995 Hopmeadow St. in Simsbury. Ample parking will be available in the parking lot adjacent to Armour Academic Center. The event is made possible by generous grants from the Ford-Goldfarb English Department Enrichment Fund and the Marina Rust Connor Fund.