Nate Najar – is one of the few guitarists playing jazz on the classical guitar. A Florida native, Nate studied guitar with noted Washington, DC guitarist Frank Mullen, who helped develop his pianistic, lightly swinging guitar style. Najar has performed with many jazz greats including Bucky Pizzarelli, Ken Peplowski, Harry Allen and Kenny Drew Jr, and has had an ongoing musical partnership with Ellington alum, bassist John Lamb. In 2008, Nate was selected by Dr. Billy Taylor to represent Charlie Byrd in a 10 day festival at the Kennedy Center celebrating the history of jazz in Washington, DC. Rick Andersen of the All Music Guide called Nate “one of the most consistently interesting and stylish young guitarists on the jazz scene….” And Becky Byrd, wife of the late guitarist Charlie Byrd says it best: “There is no doubt that there is a piece of Charlie’s soul in Nate’s mind, heart and fingers. Get ready world, here comes Nate Najar!!!”
