Nate Birkey Quintet: Live at Soho

Nate Birkey’s quiet but intense demeanor typifies an artist restlessly pursuing the evolution of his own musical personality. As composer, trumpeter and vocalist, he imbues warmth and broiling energy into his music. Nate lives in New York City and has been working with some of the area’s finest musicians.

As a leader he has released 10 albums on Household Ink Records – his critically acclaimed 2018 release titled “Rome” was recorded in Rome with an all Italian rhythm section featuring Robertp Tarenzi, piano: Alessandro Marzi, drums; Luca Bulgarelli, bass and Manuel Magrini, piano. The album is a mix of Birkey’s original compositions, Italian standards, and songs from the American songbook. The album received 4 stars in the April, 2018 issue of Downbeat Magazine.

Nate has a loyal fan base and has toured throughout Europe – including Russia, Italy and France, and extensively in Canada and the United States. He has performed with famed Jazz chanteuses Diana Krall and Madeleine Peyroux. He is also one of many musicians featured in a book by Cicily Janus titled The New Face of Jazz, published by Random House.

As a studio musician Nate has appeared on over seventy different recordings, and has performed with among others, pianists Roger Kellaway, Jim Ridl, Gerald Clayton, Helen Sung, and Mark Soskin; saxophonists Phil Woods and Dave Liebman,  drummers Bill Goodwin, Ignacio Berroa, Buddy Williams and Mike Clark; and bassists Tony Marino, Francoise Moutin and David Piltch.

Critics have compared Nate Birkey’s subtle vocal and trumpet approach to that of Chet Baker and Miles Davis respectively – a sound poised and assured, powerfully stark and spare, creating an atmosphere at once solitary and electric. He is one of the more intriguing “new”—yet mature and self-aware–voices on the current jazz scene, having a sound that is timeless and timely, emotionally true and going places.

“Nate Birkey, he of mysterious charisma, subtle gossamer trumpet lines and understated voice, hunches over the microphone and leans into his phrases, shutting out the world.”

~Josef Woodard, Los Angeles Times