Roy Nathanson

by Joslyn Layne
Based in New York, multi-reedist Roy Nathanson is co-founder of Jazz Passengers, performs in Matt Darriau's Paradox Trio, and was once a member of John Lurie's Lounge Lizards. Nathanson studied saxophone with Jimmy Heath, Joe Allard and Les Scott, and acting with Mira Rostova. Nathanson has acted in films by directors Jim Jarmusch, Chantal Akerman and Elaine May. He also had a feature role in Peter Lilenthal's children's film, Wasserman. In 1986, Nathanson joined the Lounge Lizards, and the following year, he and Curtis Fowlkes co-founded the Jazz Passengers, of which Nathanson is principal composer. He also leads the Roy Nathanson Quartet, which features the Passengers rhythm section, and has an on-going duo project with keyboardist Anthony Coleman which has toured throughout the U.S. and Europe. Besides his past work as sideman in the Lounge Lizards, Nathanson also played in Mark Ribot's Cosmopolitans, with Charles Earland, and with the Shirelles. He received two Meet the Composer grants to create a work for children, and so co-wrote with the children at the school in Queens where he served as Artist Consultant for Instrumental Music. These third through fifth grade music students also performed as the choir on "Dreams of Someday." A five year Annenberg Fellow at a different public school in Queens, Nathanson has also given private lessons, run workshops, and guest lectured, and created programs for teaching American history through music and math.