Nathan Jolley
Nathan Jolley
Drums
Nathan Jolley undoubtedly inherited his passion for jazz from his guitarist grandfather, the late Noble Jolley, and his father, who was the first student to earn a jazz studies degree from Howard University. His affinity for the drums surfaced when he was two – then it was just pots and pans, but the flame was ignited and never died. A full scholarship to Peabody Conservatory allowed him to develop as a jazz percussionist, composer, producer, and songwriter. He has also studied with Rufus Reid at the Ravinia Jazz Festival and with Christian McBride at the Aspen Snow Mass Summer Camp. Just 21 years old, his accomplishments are already notable. Nathan has opened for John Legend, Ron Carter, James Moody, and McCoy Tyner and performed with Antonio Hart, Ingrid Jensen, Eric Lewis and others. He has toured in Cuba, St Lucia, Anguilla, and Bonaire and performed at the East Coast Jazz Festival, Kennedy Center, Blues Alley, Lincoln Theater, Zanzibar Blue in Philadelphia, and the Blue Note, to name a few. Nathan has four CDs to his credit. Jazz Times gives him high praise, describing his playing as, “explosive musicianship that deserves a bountiful audience.”