Saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer Nathan Nakadegawa-Lee was born and raised in Oakland, California. Nathan began studying music in elementary school with David Tidball, playing drums, clarinet, and eventually picking up saxophone. While attending Oakland Technical High School, Nathan developed his passion for music through artists such as Dexter Gordon, John Coltrane, The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, and Kendrick Lamar. He is equally indebted to his teachers Vincent Tolliver, Ted Allen, Helena Jack, Pete Cornell, and Tony Peebles.

Nathan currently attends the New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City where he is pursuing a BFA in Jazz Performance and has studied with Melissa Aldana, Darius Jones, Tivon Pennicot, David Glasser, Jon Irabagon and Anat Cohen. While in Oakland, Nathan taught at Oakland Summer Music, Oakland Public Conservatory, and his alma mater Claremont Middle School, providing music education at no cost to Oakland middle schoolers. He recently played at the Bern Jazz festival in Switzerland with the Derek Lewis group. Nathan continues to compose, improvise, and perform in New York City and the Bay Area.

Playing with Nathan are:

Hannah Mayer piano

Peter Barshay bass

Isaac Schwartz drums

Tickets at Nathan Nakadegawa-Lee Quintet