Nathan Tokunaga
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Nathan Tokunaga | |
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| Born | December 27, 2006 Redwood City, California, US |
| Genres | Jazz, Swing |
| Instruments | Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Alto and Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone |
| Website | https://www.nathantokunagajazz.com/ |
Nathan Andrew Tokunaga (born December 27, 2006) is an American jazz clarinetist and bandleader based in the San Francisco Bay Area.[1] He has been a member of many professional jazz bands and album recordings, most recently as a sideman and guest soloist in Gunhild Carling's Jazz is my Lifestyle in 2024.[2][3][4]
Career
Tokunaga started playing the clarinet at 9 years old and, during the COVID-19 lockdowns, gained an appreciation for traditional jazz music.[5][6][2] First studying under New Orleans jazz musician Clint Baker, Tokunaga developed a foundational repertoire of jazz standards, and he would later study under composer and clarinetist Evan Christopher.[6][5]
Tokunaga began his professional career at the age of 14 playing in the 2021 Healdsburg Jazz Festival.[5][7] In the ensuing years, he would go on to play with various professional big bands, including the Gunhild Carling Big Band[4], Alex Mendham Orchestra[8], and Kyle Athayde Dance Party[3].
In 2021, he founded a youth jazz group called "Nathan's Fearless Five" to raise funds for the New Orleans Musicians' Clinic following the damages caused by Hurricane Ida in the city.[1] The group has been featured in regular performances around the Bay Area, playing in cafes, libraries, senior care facilities, and jazz clubs.[1] They primarily play early swing music from the 1920s and 1940s.[1]
Tokunaga has appeared in other albums in addition to Jazz is my Lifestyle, including Backdraft Jazz Band's A Musical Tribute to the Firehouse Five (#2)[9], and Huntington Palace Jazz Band's A Tribute to the Great Ray Ronnei[10].
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Kane, Karla (2023-11-22). "Nathan's Fearless Five, fronted by high school junior Nathan Tokunaga, plays regular gigs in Palo Alto and San Francisco". The Almanac. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Orozco, Donna (2024-04-10). "49th Jazzaffair in Three Rivers this weekend". Visalia Times Delta. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Concerts on the Corner". Christ Presbyterian Church in Terra Linda. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Carling, Gunhild (2024-06-26). "Gunhild Carling Big Band: Jazz is my Lifestyle – CD". GUNHILD CARLING SHOP. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "About | Nathan Tokunaga". Nathan Tokunaga Jazz. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Shaw, Lew (2021-09-24). "Jazz Jottings October 2021". The Syncopated Times. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
- ↑ KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco (2021-06-19). Healdsburg Jazz Festival makes a sizzling comeback. Retrieved 2024-09-21 – via YouTube.
- ↑ "Summer Stage – Alex Mendham & Orchestra". filoli. 2024-06-09. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
- ↑ "Backdraft Jazz Band, by Backdraft Jazz Band". Bandcamp. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
- ↑ "Huntington Palace Jazz Band, by Huntington Palace Jazz Band". Bandcamp. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
External links
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