top of page

About Me

Nathan Tokunaga is a young clarinetist based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Michael Steinman of Jazz Lives aptly noted, "Nathan quickly showed himself an adult in every conceivable way except the number on his birth certificate." The musicians who encountered him for the first time were, in Steinman's words, unequivocally "blown away."

Steve Pistorius, Pianist, New Orleans

"I have to say, I’ve been doing this for almost fifty years professionally, and I’ve worked with some of the greatest clarinetists in the world. This fifteen-year-old young man, Nathan, is playing at a level I’ve seldom heard the depth of understanding of New Orleans Jazz as I’ve heard coming out of that horn of anybody." 
RH-NATHAN.JPG

Bandleader of

Nathan's Fearless Five

(high school band)

Nathan Tokunaga Duo—Quintet

(professional band)

Big Bands & Orchestra

Stanford Jazz Miles Ahead Big Band, lead alto

Kyle Athayde Dance Party

Alex Mendham Orchestra

Gunhild Carling Big Band

Lindy Focus Big Bands

Stanford Jazz Orchestra

College of San Mateo Big Band

JALC SJA Clark Terry Big Band

Peninsula Youth Orchestra, principal clarinet

Awards & Honors

San Jose Jazz Commissions Award

JALC Summer Jazz Academy

Stanford Jazz lifetime Shape of Jazz to Come

Stanford Jazz Outstanding Soloist

Jazz at the Ballroom Scholarship

CMEA Solos and Ensembles, Superior

Festivals

Caramoor Jazz Festival, NY

Healdsburg Jazz Festival

Monterey Jazz Bash by the Bay

San Diego Jazz Festival

Jazzaffair, Three Rivers

Hot Jazz Jubilee, Sacramento

Jazz on the Hill Festival, San Mateo

VENUES SINCE 2021

bottom of page