Nate Birkey

Currently: Though a California resident from 1985 to 2004, Nate currently resides in New York City and has been performing, recording, and touring with his group, The Nate Birkey Quartet which includes pianist, Jim Ridl (formerly with Pat Martino); and drummer Marko Marcinko; and bassist Tony Marino, both of whom are members of Dave Liebmann's quartet. Visit http://natebirkey.com for upcoming performances, booking and CD purchases. History:

Though a California resident from 1985 to 2004, Nate currently resides in New York City and has been performing, recording, and touring with his group, The Nate Birkey Quartet which includes pianist, Jim Ridl (formerly with Pat Martino); and drummer Marko Marcinko; and bassist Tony Marino, both of whom are members of Dave Liebmann's quartet. Visit http://natebirkey.com for upcoming performances, booking and CD purchases.

History:
Nate was born in South Bend, Indiana where he spent his early childhood before moving to Colorado with his family at the age of 10. He began studying piano at age six, but then fell in love with the trumpet in the fifth grade after discovering his father's old cornet in the closet ".... it just felt more natural to me. I didn't mind practicing the trumpet, so I put the piano aside, joined the school band and started taking trumpet lessons."
Nate was accepted into the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston where he studied Jazz performance and composition, and later went on to study classical trumpet and composition at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Nate has recently received awards from the Santa Barbara Arts Fund and the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers.
Nate has performed such notable musicians as saxophonists Phil Woods and Dave Liebmann, pianists Roger Kellaway, Gerald Clayton, Mark Soskin and Eric Reed, and drummers Bill Goodwin and Mike Clark.
As a studio musician he has appeared on over sixty different recordings and has toured playing festivals and clubs throughout the States, Canada and Europe.

What Critics Are Saying:
A West-Coaster, he's recently been sharing his talents with more east coast audiences. Birkey's is a well-knit group that plays with skill, thought and keen sensibility. With Birkey on the trumpet and occasional flugelhorn, Jim Ridl on piano, Tony Marino on Bass, Chris Karlic on tenor sax and drummer Marko Marcinko, it was a grand event.
From his 2008 album Almost Home the high point for me was the CD's title song, "Almost Home," a most beautiful melody . Birkey's trumpet solo was full of punch, with creamy tones that defined jazz. Birkey's music has been described as introspective and subtle. It is more than that; it is a manifestation of a remarkable talent."
~Seymour Spilka Cabaret Scenes New York