Nate Najar

Nate Najar
Nate Najar Trio, London Jazz Festival, 2013 (Najar at left)
Background information
Birth name Nathaniel Bernard Najar
Born (1981-08-28)August 28, 1981
St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S.
Genres Jazz
Occupation(s) Musician
Instruments Guitar
Website natenajar.com

Nathaniel Bernard Najar (born August 28, 1981),[1] better known as Nate Najar and related act, Nate Najar Trio,[2][3] is an American guitarist, music producer, and composer who plays mostly as a fingerstyle guitarist, playing the classical guitar within the jazz tradition.[4][5][6]

As a teen Najar, originally from St. Petersburg, Florida,[1] studied classical guitar under Frank Mullen.[4][7][8] Through Mullen, Nate developed an instrumental style for which he'd receive most recognition,[4][9] thus being selected to perform locally, nationally, and abroad among notable jazz musicians, including both veterans and contemporaries, such as Ken Peplowski, John Lamb, Bucky Pizzarelli, Eric Darius, Chuck Redd, Buster Cooper, Cindy Bradley, Jessy J, and Jonathan Fritzén among others.[10][11][12][13]

Najar's musical style is influenced by the late Charlie Byrd, a fingerstyle guitarist known for encompassing Bossa nova and Brazilian jazz music styles.[4][14] Najar plays one of Byrd's own instruments, a 1974 Ramírez (brand) 1A classical guitar.[4][15]

In addition to local and international festivals and concerts Najar has performed on television along with having performance and composition credits in the filmography sector as well.[16][17][18]

Najar has been ranked multiple times on the jazz music charts, including a top ten spot in 2011 for the song "Groove Me," on which he collaborated with singer Melba Moore.[19][20][21]

As producer and composer, Najar has worked and recorded throughout the U. S. and abroad at venues and studios such as Nola studios in New York City, where he recorded multiple times, including on an album by Lisa Casalino.[22][23]

Becky Byrd, widow of jazz guitarist Charlie Byrd, has compared Najar to her late husband: "There is no doubt that there is a piece of Charlie's soul in Nate's mind, heart and fingers."[4]

Najar's discography is extensive. His most recent album as of 2014 is Aquarela Do Brasil.[21][24]

References

  1. 1 2 "Nate Najar Bio". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  2. ↑ "Artist Nate Najar". All Music. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  3. ↑ "Artist Nate Najar Trio". All Music. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Nate Najar". Artist Guide. Jazz Times. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  5. ↑ "Jazz guitarist Najar flies in on Byrd's wings". Palm Beach Arts. 30 June 2014. Archived from the original on 13 August 2014.
  6. ↑ "Najar at St. Ives, Cornwall, UK". What's On Cornwall. 25 March 2014.
  7. ↑ "Nate Najar: Using classical guitar to make personal statements". Soundcheck. Tampa Bay Times. 17 April 2014.
  8. ↑ "Blue and White News; Frank Mullen Obituary". St. Petersburg College. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  9. ↑ "The Nate Najar Trio; Cadence 79992..." (PDF). Independent Journal of Creative Improvised Music. 39 (3): 141. 1 July 2013.
  10. ↑ "Tioga Jazz". Tioga Town Center Event Calendar. Trend Magazine. 1 October 2011.
  11. ↑ "Jazz Club of Sarasota Presents..." Tampa Bay News Wire. 8 March 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  12. ↑ "Jazz in a Mellow Tone: Nate Najar, John Lamb..." The Studio@620. 23 April 2009. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  13. ↑ "Nate Najar Playing Blues Alley". Frederick News Post. Frederick News Post via NewspaperArchive.com. 15 January 2004.
  14. ↑ "Charlie Byrd and the Bossa Nova Beat" (PDF). Interlude Newsletter. Chesapeake Chamber Music. 1 June 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 October 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  15. ↑ "Featured Artist Nate Najar" (PDF). Jazz & Blues Florida. 1 July 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  16. ↑ "Musical Guest Performance of Optimistic..." Studio 10. ABC Action News. Archived from the original on 6 August 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  17. ↑ "Film Credits; Duplicitous Behavior". IMDb. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  18. ↑ "Performer Profile". Clearwater Jazz. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  19. ↑ "Artist Chart Rankings". Billboard. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  20. ↑ "Jazz Album Charts" (PDF). Jazz Week. 11 March 2013.
  21. 1 2 "Artist Credits". Artist Direct. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  22. ↑ "Artist Lisa Casalino's New Album Credits". Entertainment News. ABC Action News / Gannett. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  23. ↑ "Referencing Nola Studios a Landmark". The Billboard Newsweekly Edition. 4 November 1950. p. 20. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  24. ↑ "Album Details; Aqualero Do Brasil". iTunes. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
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