Roy Nathanson

about

Roy Nathanson has a varied career as a saxophonist, composer, bandleader, actor and teacher. He is leader and principal composer of the Jazz Passengers. The Jazz Passengers are an American jazz group founded in 1987 by saxophonist Roy Nathanson and trombonist Curtis Fowlkes. The band grew out of a partnership between Nathanson and Fowlkes in 1987, after the two had played with John Lurie's band The Lounge Lizards. Other regular members include vibraphonist Bill Ware, bassist Brad Jones and drummer E.J. Rodriguez; the group has often featured a violinist (Rob Thomas, Jim Nolet or, more recently, Sam Bardfeld). Guitarists Marc Ribot and David Fiuczynski played in earlier formations of the group. The album that is perhaps their masterpiece, the Hal Willner-produced In Love (High Street Records, 1994), features vocal contributions from Deborah Harry, Jeff Buckley, Jimmy Scott, Bob Dorough and Mavis Staples. Harry later became a regular member of the band, appearing on a number of follow-up albums, including Individually Twisted (which includes two duets with Elvis Costello). Recently the Passengers have recorded infrequently as a full ensemble, though the individual bandmembers' recent side projects tend to feature many fellow Passengers, as well as a similarly skewed musical sensibility. In 2005 Nathanson composed a work commemorating the world's oldest object, a 4.404 billion year old zircon found in Australia. The work was performed by The Jazz Passengers at a "Rock Concer

top songs

albums

82 Days

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All the Bones Had Names

Fire At Keaton's Bar and Grill

Sotto Voce

Subway Moon

Complicated Day

Fire at Keaton's Bar & Grill

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The Coming Great Millenium…

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Indian Summer Jazz - 25 Chilled Jazz Pieces

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Nearness and You: Duets and Improvisations by Roy Nathanson & Friends at The Stone (Live)

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The Jazz Passengers: Implement Yourself

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Summer Jazz - 50 Chilled Jazz Pieces

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